looks like one of the bindweeds.. wish you had a flower pic .. compare here ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=bindweed+leaves&t=ffab&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

if it is.. imo.. round up is the only way to get rid of it.. and a good layer of mulch ...

i once had such on a 4 foot mulch pile ... which sat too long ... and as i was finally using the pile.. i swear that darn vine had roots down 4 feet ... there is no pulling it out... and any root left will return ...

of course with all your other vegetation... you would have to be very careful with spraying ... but one thing for sure.. dont let it go to seed ... else you might have it forever ...

and if im wrong on the Id.. i will come up with some other vine nightmare story .. lol ..

ken

What is the length of the fence? I'd use a row of pavers (concrete since nobody will see them) to edge the fence.

If that is Fallopia convolvulus, it will be easier to move than get rid of it.

Thank you everyone!

@ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5 Yes, it is the black bindweed or the Fallopia convolvulus! I feel defeated!

@Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL that is exactly what I was telling my husband! We need to just move!

@cecily 7A I like the idea of putting pavers back there, but I am thinking the weeds will just take it over! Maybe it can keep it down though. Would pavers be better than stone? The fence is probably 60 feet long.

"Would pavers be better than stone?"

If you mean loose rocks- oh dear god no. You'd regret that for as long as you live there. They are ugly, hot, they sink, and do nothing to stop weeds.

Pavers would work better but you'd still have the cracks to weed.

I'd just bite the bullet and crawl in to weed- all you need is one spot to put your foot. It's awful, I know- shrubs poking me, leaves in my hair, and just awkward all around. But get it done well and mulch heavily and hopefully you won't have to do it too often.

I just finished my second go-round of the year weeding a very long fence-line like this and it's my second least favorite weeding job on the property (the rock garden is the only area I find harder to work in). Fortunately I can get at my fence-line from the other side with a weed torch that won't hurt my chain link and that helps quite a bit- doubt it's a good idea next to a vinyl fence, lol.

I'd probably start moving some shrubs so it's easier to get into. I know, 60 feet is a lot of shrubs but even two or three 'access points' can help tremendously. If you and this fence are to co-exist happily for the next couple of decades it just might be worth it if you don't want to be fighting this battle year after year.

That is not F. convolvulus, at least you have pretty blooms. http://www.freenatureimages.eu/plants/Flora%20D-I/Fallopia%20convolvulus%2C%20Black-bindweed/index.html

I'm not sure which bindweed that is, but the others also have bad reputations. If this stuff is on the other side of the fence also, it will never stop creeping over to your side. The rocks in your pic will do nothing to slow it down, just inhibit your ability to pull/dig.

You should be able to use a hedge trimmer to BUZZ the fence-side of your shrubs to give you enough room to see and get back there, &/or at least stick a weed-wacker back there to insult the bindweed as often as possible.

Blooms are going to make and then drop new seeds, from which new plants will sprout. If you can find and sever the stems @ ground level, and keep insulting them with a weed-wacker, hopefully your battle could be limited to fence monitoring/weed-wacking, and not new rows of sprouts in/around your shrubs, increasing the mass you are battling to the point where there's just not enough time to keep on top of it.

@cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky) Thank you so much for your advice! Might have to see how much the pavers cost, but may be worth it. Yes, not a battle I want every year!

@Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL Thank you so much! I may try to combat it for a while and see how it goes. I had no idea weeds could be this powerful!

i read her idea to put pavers directly below the fence.. as a physical break ... its an idea... but its not going to stop this beast ...

i would probably clear the area between your plants and the fence.. so i could walk back there with a spray tank.. and just keep spraying every little shoot that pops up ... and then work into your plants.. and eradicate them in there ...

when i moved her to 5 acres.. i spent 4 years killing rampant poison ivy in one are .. before i could develop it ... anything can be beaten.. if you have the will ... and the desire .... its usually hard work at first.. but once you beat back the majority ... its not that big a job to finish off the stragglers ... and the newly emerged ...

or as peren suggested.. just move .. lol ... thats how i got rid of a few issues at my last house ... lol ..

ken