I cut my fig trees down to the ground this Spring. There is plenty of new growth, multiple 3' shoots or suckers? off the main trunks but they are growing lateral instead of upright. I stalked them. They are green and pliable. All advice and suggestions are welcome to help me to get them to look like trees again instead of ground cover.

Why'd you cut them back to the ground?  Wanted to make bushes instead of trees?

The buds that that they are sprouting from probably in the side of the stump/trunk, so they naturally grow horizontal. Yo9u will need to stake and train them.

Thanks! I guess I will pick the strongest shoots and train it with a stake. The reason I cut them to the ground was due to the harsh winter here in Maryland, the fig trees were very damaged and susceptible to disease, they became infested with wood boring beetles and they did not leaf out. My neighbors' trees experienced the same problems. Everyone in our area ended up cutting their trees to the ground.

Here's a suggestion: Place cider blocks around the base of the tree and fill with soil.
The covered branches will set roots. Dig out in before the ground freezes and place in pots.
Keep inside until spring.

ok, my neck...

Thanks TahomaGuy2... I like your idea! I also read on another thread to put cups with soil around the shoots to have them root. I may try that idea and see what happens. Last year at this time I had so many figs..sadly now there are none. Hopefully next year! So hard to wait an entire year for the bounty!

I am happy to announce that the Celeste, following a brutal cutting down to the ground in late Spring, has rebounded beautifully and is producing figs! Shown here, I am experimenting with the cup propagation method I saw someone post in forum. I am sorry I don't remember who posted this idea, so I can't give you credit. But it looks interesting so I am giving it a go. I also have a shooter layering at ground level and I will post results if I get anything worth telling about! In any case I am really happy I didn't have to wait 3 years for a crop, like some of my zone 7 friends were predicting.