What is one of the main goals of traditional pruning techniques?

One of the main goals of traditional pruning techniques is to control plant size and shape. Pruning is a practice used in gardening and horticulture to remove specific parts of a plant, such as branches, buds, or roots, with the intention of promoting healthy growth and maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance. By selectively trimming plants, gardeners can manage their growth patterns, ensure that plants do not become too large or unwieldy, and encourage desirable branching and flowering behaviors.

This controlled method not only helps in shaping the plant for visual appeal but also enhances light penetration, air circulation, and overall plant health. A well-pruned plant can better access sunlight and nutrients, which contributes to its vigor and productivity.

The other options are not aligned with the core purpose of traditional pruning. Creating more maintenance work would contradict the aims of enhancing plant health and aesthetics. Allowing for more sunlight competition does not reflect the goal of pruning, which is instead to optimize light access for the plant being pruned. Completely removing all branches is contrary to pruning principles, as the practice focuses on selective removal rather than total destruction, which could harm the plant's growth and survival.