I depend on a large chip bark mulch to keep the weeds down. Large chip because I'm always adding things into the soil, or moving things and the small chip is harder to keep out of the hole I'm digging. I have quite a few flower beds to maintain and do very little weeding. It is expensive, though, and I buy it by the truck load because of how many beds I have to cover. But I love it. Keeps the cats out, as well!
