How can I best handle this (neighbor's fence content inside)

Hey, I want to run something by you to get your thoughts.
8 or 9 years ago I put a chain link fence in. Got permits, talked to my prickish neighbors. When I put it in, I bought top quality stuff and did it the best way possible with the best materials because I didn’t want to touch that fence in the next 50 years.
Fast forward to early fall last year. A contractor come over and tells me my neighbor is putting in a privacy fence. He’d like to have permission to remove my fence and haul the stuff away for me. He said he’d tie the two sections of chain link that will be left standing into the privacy fence. I’m not a fan of privacy fences in general, or PVC fences either, but in reality, he doesn’t need my permission to put a fence up so I cooperate. Incidentally, when he was doing his install, he asked who put my fence in because it was some of the best work he'd ever seen. I was proud.
He said he’d come back in the spring to remove and haul away my fence. Spring turned to summer. He’s not come by to remove my fence, and isn’t returning my calls. So, I now have two fences on my property about 8” apart. I think it’s going to look like crap because I can’t mow between the fences.
I DO NOT want to tear the fence down just because it’s a HUGE amount of work, digging up 100’ of fence posts that are 48”+ in the ground and cemented in! I don’t have any way to haul it away. I don’t have the time to do it or the money to hire it out.
So, I called the city, there’s nothing they can do (checked to make sure it’s within code to have two fences). Is there a way to avoid pulling my fence up and not have it look like crap in a few months? Maybe plant wildflowers in the gap and hope it overtakes the grass?
What do you guys/girls thing?

How do you feel about Roundup?

Let jasmine or some other flowering vine overtake your chainlink. You won't be able to see whatever grows in that 8" gap, and your yard will smell good.

In reply to KatieSuddard:

That is a good idea if you can find something that will survive the winter. I have some jasmine all along the back deck and it is just about the best smelling stuff there is for the 3-4 weeks each year when it is in bloom. It takes no maintenance other than to re-train it from growing places I don't want it like my downspouts and deck railing. The flowers make a mess when they are finished smelling good, but that shouldn't be an issue along a property line.

Why don't you like the vinyl fences?

In reply to T.J.:

Haha, I always forget about winter. It's not that big of an issue here in FL.

In reply to KatieSuddard:

My jasmine makes it through winter no problem, but I'm in southern NC. MI winters are a bit more on the long and frigid side.

Dr.Boost said: So, I now have two fences on my property about 8” apart.

I don't understand this. Isn't at least one of the fences on one side of the property line or the other?

My entire block has chain link pretty much on the property lines enclosing each of the back yards. The house immediately next to mine has an absolutely terrible looking old wooden privacy fence right up against the chain link on their side. So there are a few inches (less than eight) where every sort of noxious weed tries to grow through the chain link on my side. I CAREFULLY blast it with roundup once or twice a year. The neighbor did the same once, and along the side of their garage, and took out about a foot of my lawn as well. It still hasn't recovered. It sounds like your only real option is roundup or take the fence out yourself.

Have you considered land mines?

Kudzu

put up another fence on that side so you dont have to look at it?

probably not the easiest option.

I did a bit of fencing back in the day. Pulled permits and all that. Generally, fences will be placed INSIDE the property line to avoid problems with neighbors. Finding the actual line can be a problem, but get a copy of the survey and it will show were the line should be. Get too close and you are asking for trouble. I had to pull and reinstall 80' of wood fence because there was a discrepancy between the homeowners survey and the neighbors. A whole 10". I could have paid for another survey, but chose the quick and easier way.

Enyar wrote: Why don't you like the vinyl fences?

I'm not a fan of having a 7' tall wall of shiny white plastic standing there. I'm less a fan of having a 7' tall wall of chalky, cracking plastic standing there in 5 years. I chose cyclone fence because it's maintenance free, among other reasons.

I like the idea of Jasime, and it's fine here in zone 5.
When I did my fence, I didn't want to pay for a survey. So I took the paperwork that I got when we closed on the house (can't remember what it is called) and measured every-which-way-from-Sunday to get the property lines, then moved the fence 7" inside of that line. The contractor said my measurements were spot on.

We're going to talk to the neighbor and hope he would call the contractor. I don't think that'll do anything, but it's worth a try. If he doesn't come pull the fence, I don't think I am going to pull it. By the time I rent the equipment to pull the posts, the truck and trailer to haul it to the dump (or the contractors house ), and repair the damage done by said equipment, I'll be out at least a grand.
I'm looking into some ornamental grasses to break up the white wall, and a vine for my fence.

...when he was doing his install, he asked who put my fence in because it was some of the best work he'd ever seen. ...won't return my call

What he was really saying was, "your fence will be a mother to get out. I ain't doing it"

Pass on Round Up.
Get "total vegetation killer"
It might bleed over to your neighbors side of the fence but you'll be assured nothing grows between the two.

Plant some english ivy inside your chain link and train it to grow up the fence. In a couple years you won't be able to see the weeds or the fence on the other side.

If you want to add, I put in some Japanese sky pencil holly this year. Grows tall and narrow.

Mature samples

Both fences are on your property? Don't understand that.

Anyway, you seem to have two choices.

1. Put down a long term herbicide that will prevent anything from growing in the space between the two fences. It will give you erosion problems.

2. Plant stuff in between the two fences that you will enjoy looking at. From shrubs to vines to trees, wildflowers, a vegetable garden whatever. Personally, this is the choice I would take. And if I felt the need for revenge, I might plant Barberry.

Grow grapes. Lots of coverage, grow quick and you have fresh grapes in the fall.

Sawzall the posts at ground level. Roll up sections of fence you can handle and drag to roadside, scrappers will take care of hauling it away.

Grapes are a good one! Maybe get some hop rhizomes?

Bamboo. Ha ha.

Light a fire in that 8" space. Only one of those fences will survive.

Huckleberry wrote: Light a fire in that 8" space. Only one of those fences will survive.

I like that!