We have an area in front of our house with several strong hostas and irises that are being overrun with these weeds! I first identified it a couple of years ago, and dug out several large roots balls, following a couple of “runners” for several feet. Thought we had gotten it good. Next spring, we had 3-4 times as many. Tried the “soak the vines in roundup mixture”, and the ones we unravelled from our holly to soak have not returned. But more have come up throughout the space in and around the hostas and irises. Short of digging out all of the plants and using roundup on the entire space (leaving it dead for quite a while), are there any other options?

Thanks! Now what is the best way to get rid of these? I am thinking of digging loosely and dousing with round up and letting them die in place. I don’t want to have it transplant itself to new location.

looks like smilax to me