Toni,
I know what you mean about bindweed. The only way I've found to get rid of it is to apply enough Roundup that nothing else will ever grow in that space (except rocks, of course).
And it's a good point about watering, Tabby. I had someone water my garden when I was away this summer. I normally water in little hollows that I have established near plants. In between plants, the soil stays drier. But the person who watered, carefully moistened all of the soil evenly. So all the spaces between plants sprouted and grew three ft tall weeds while I was out of town for two weeks. Or so it seemed.
