Hi all
I posted photos all of the same fig tree that has been growing in my yard for many years. I tried killing it like I did three other that were all growing in that area. I even used a drill to make holes into the toots  system applied root killing hormone a few times. I just could not kill it.

My intent now is since this thing doesn't die in my zone 5B area I want to try grafting on a cutting I just purchased. Now do I wait until green shoots can be seen before digging out a piece of that root ball then place that into a 5 gallon bucket and get it to grow an then try to graft on one of the black mission cuttings I just purchased?

Should I use an axe to cut just a portion of the rootball then dig out that area now or after new growth has started?
Photos attached all same plant. By the way all the years I had it it never produced even one fruit. Even when I had it protected way back when.
Thank you for any advice.
Lou

As the saying goes "If you can't beat'em, join'em!"

I know nothing about grafting but I'm sure others will advise - Good Luck!!

Lou
You can dig up the suckers with roots and plant in pots now.  (assuming weren't killed off by winter.)
Once they start growing enough so the cambium is slipping juice is flowing you can do many grafts then. 

Also If you are happy growing the fig in ground in that location? Why not graft some cold hardy variety on the stems right there?

Pino I just want to try to grow a different fig on that plant only because of the hardness it seems to show. I have grafted other fruit species and had a good success rate but never a fig. The ground is not frozen now but I decided to hold off  a bit until I see some green growth.
Thank you
Lou