A weed control plan that actually works great: Newsprint.
You can lay it out in layers, then cover with mulch. Weeds don't grow through it, and the newsprint eventually decomposes with no mess. Now some folks might object to the ink on the paper being introduced to their garden. I don't know about that, but it works great for weed control.
Alternative ideas would be the rolled brown paper used to mask areas for spray painting, rolled paper for table tops at church socials... Any kind of paper works pretty well for one year. Water drips through slowly, too.
Cardboard works pretty good too. We use leaves and grass clippings, too. Weeds I pull I often use them a mulch right on the spot, just shake the dirt off.
We plant in wide rows, beds 3ft. wide, and with the plants sown pretty thickly the plants will suppress weeds somewhat. We use a few special hand tools to control weeds but if a person really hates weeding, then gardening just might not be their thing. Mulches save time weeding but they are work in and of themselves to apply, maintain and store not to mention purchase.
Farmers of 40 Centuries is a good read describing growing techniques in the early 1900's in China, Korea and Japan.
They would dig small holes and bury the weeds as fertilize for the cultivated plants. Kept things neat growing.
Of course all kinds of other recycling was practiced, too.