When the tree buds from last years wood, is the first bud the highest on the "trunk" meaning that the wood above the first bud is considered dead?  Or, can the tree bud from the bottom initially and put out subsequent buds higher up the trunk? 

I have a single branch fig tree that survived the winter.  It's has two buds.  The first started about 1.5" up from the trunk and I just noticed a second bud popped along the base of the trunk.  What's the likelihood that more buds will appear on the wood above the first bud on the trunk?  The tree is about two feet high.  I'm just wondering if the tree usually buds from the top down on old wood meaning that the old wood above the first bud will likely not bud and can be removed.  Thanks.

Hi,
It just means that the wood up from the bud needs recovery. That wood will eventually recover and bud out later.
So common practice by me is to wait until July to cut dead wood. Unless, a part of the stem gets moldy. If so I cut just under the moldy zone.

Last year the terminal bud on one stem of my "goutte d'or" did not leaf out. Two buds under that zone budded. Then in July, the former terminal bud started to grow...
I have the same story on my damn "Longue d'aout" this year. But now all buds have leafed out ... and all are slow to grow ... But the weather is and has been fresh here for this time of the year
so could be due to the weather ...
Each year is different with figs. New situations and challenges keep coming ... At some point just : water , fertilize, and watch them grow like they can . And don't forget to trim the cherry tree that has started shadowing the fig trees :P

I think in general it depends on the health of the wood with terminal buds usually leading the way.

IMO if a tree has pushed most its buds then what is left is damaged wood.   I prefer to cut the damaged wood off taking the opportunity to shape the tree.  
If you leave the upper late budding parts they may still grow later but likely will be weak branches and likely not ripen the figs properly and you will end up pruning it off anyway. 

Thanks for the replies.  Just curious as to whether or not the buds appear in a certain order on old wood.  Does the subsequent buds appear higher or lower, or can appear anywhere.  I only ask because the second bud appeared below the first bud and wondering if it's possible that another bud will appear higher up on lat years wood or if its always directional.  Thanks!

figgi11, what you describe is what I am observing for nearly all of my in-ground trees.  What all have done is to initially send up strong shoots from the base of trunk and then late start pushing out buds further up the trunk.  However, as you move up the trunk it is very clear where is wood is dead.  I have removed most of the dead wood but should probably remove a bit more so as to not encourage boring insects.  The tricky thing is that I only want about 4 new trunks because with more trunks there would be too much shading. The figs usually send up several new shoots from the base.  Since these come out first they are the largest shoots.  However, if I remove the younger shoots that come out further up the trunk then eventually that wood will die and the tree won't have the advantage of the energy reserves stored in the trunk.  So I have typically been removing the larger shoots coming from the base and leaving the shoots coming out higher along the trunks (closer to where the trunks were cut).  This means my chance of getting fruit this season is lower unfortunately, but it seems better for the tree on the long run.  It would be interesting to hear what others think about this though.

I had initial shoots from the base then other shoots higher up.  I'm leaving everything as is, fertilizing enough to maintain good growth and I'll a/l the branches that should come off when I figure out what those are.