"John" wrote
My garden has been attacked by bindweed in the last 2 years.
Where has it come from and how do I get rid of it? Because it is
intertwined with established plants it is very difficult to dig up.

It's a pity it's so invasive in gardens because on rough ground or
roadside verges I always think bindweed looks lovely in flower. As well
as from seed coming in somehow, it can grow from any little piece of
broken off root, so it might have arrived with plants you've bought or
been given, in imported soil or manure, or just crept under the fence.

Some people with eagle eyes and patience advocate simply pulling or
digging up every shoot you can spot as soon as it shows its head, until
it finally gives up the ghost. That can take a few seasons though.

I've managed to get rid of bindweed that had sneaked into the base of
other plants by painting the shoots with glyphosate herbicide, which is
drawn into the plant and kills the root. To make sure you don't also
wipe out your prized plants you can put a cane or peastick in at a
suitable angle and first train the bindweed outwards 'til it's clear,
then treat.

Another method I've heard of here is to gather up as much as you can of
the long shoots into a handful and stuff them in a plastic bag, then
spray with glyphosate inside the bag, tie it up well or seal tightly
with a twist tie and leave the weed to expire.

--
Sue