Weed barrier from next door

We have a horrid chain link fence between us and next door, and until our various climbers etc are established (and probably even after that) we need to stop the weeds coming through it.

Our neighbours are lovely people, but bless them their garden is a bit of a scrap yard. The grass is already a foot high in places along their side of the fence, and ground elder and bindweed is in abundance.

Next to the fence on our side is our veg bed, and when we prepared it for planting I dug a trench in one part as an experiment. Sure enough the trench has left us completely weed free, and the non trenched area is full of weeds creeping through.

My problem with keeping a trench all the way down is that I have a pyracantha, honeysuckle, chilean potato vine and (soon to be) two clematis plants growing there, so I have left the soil around these, but I am sure they will not like being exposed like this. I also have some morning glory growing from seed to plant along the fence, and some sweet peas.

Would it work if I laid some thick plastic (I have some clear tarp plastic) vertically in the trench and then butted up the soil - so it forms a vertical barrier to stop the roots. I could even leave half a foot above ground level along the fence? The other option is that I have some black weed membrane which I could use, although I was hoping to save this for my gravel bed.

:cnfs:

 

Ok, if you can dig a slit trench all the way along the base of the fence then you can put in a weed suppressant membrane vertically. This is not a guaranteed way of stopping the weed roots from coming in, but it will slow them down and it is a leetle cheaper than the upright paving slabs often recommended.
Use a really heavy grade fabric if you can find it, rather than the cheapo thin stuff from Wilko's etc.
The plastic tarp stuff would be ok, except that it will impede the flow of water so if your garden drains that way then you could end up with a wet garden, or your neighbours could.
You only need the cheap stuff under a gravel garden, though I have to say that our gravel garden has nothing but gravel on it (plus plants of course.).

 

Can't help with anything techy but on a side note, if your neighbours are quite nice, they might let you nip in and pull some weeds from their side? Maybe popping in every few months would help out too =)

 

I cant help thinking that if its a chainlink fence it wont matter what you grow up it, the bindweed will always grow up it from the other side.
And how do you get the barrier behind the plants on your side of the fence, if they have been there a year or two the bindweed will be entwined with the roots of your shrubs.

I think I'd be inclined to ask if I could apply glyphosate along their side of the fence in a narrow band.
That way they could enjoy your flowers also, instead of the weeds

 

Normally I would recommend something like gravel boards or decking as you can hoe against these without causing any damage. You probably want to hoe a bit of their garden at the same time by going under the fence.

I would suggest lining your trench and behind you plants (this is a must) down a least six inches, then turn the top over and plant through the membrane. Cover the membrane with soil, gravel or bark, depending on the rest of the bed.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Climbing-Plants---Which-Type-is-Best-to-Grow-on-a-Wire-Fence?&id=827659

 

If you get on well with your neighbours it would probably be worth explaining your problem and asking if they wouldn't mind if you sprayed their side of the fence with a weed killer (Roundup or equivalent). If they are not gardening types it will probably not bother them at all.
We've a similar situation and I spray a 'cordon sanitaire' next door every year.