Winter pruning of fruit trees is very important as it concerns the permanent organs of the tree.
If pruning is generally intended to remove purely and simply the useless branches, the purpose of the different winter interventions is to direct the formation and the position of the framework branches, to influence fructification by controlling the direction the sap takes and sometimes even "restoring" a whole tree when it has not been maintained for years.
All these operations are covered by the term "winter pruning", as opposed to "summer pruning".

Pruning for fructification aims to increase fruit production.
Its extent will vary according to species. For example, it is essential for pear trees, but almost pointless for plum trees.

Even through formative pruning should also aim above all to encourage fructification, it often results from aesthetic considerations.
Formative pruning should lead to the constitution of a balanced tree, whose branches are able to bear the fruit which will develop favourably thanks to the harmonious distribution of the sap.
To achieve this, certain branches need to be removed or reduced, thus influencing the structure of the tree.