Lots of suggestions are for rock chips. I have gradually buried the rather small rocks somehow, and wood chips would help do that. I thing rock chips might help maintain the appearance I like. Often, when I am trying to plant another plant, I resurrect rocks. I have to lay a bamboo pole down and weed everything to the left or rt. and then move it a foot, for several days. This is because i cannot do it all at once. i don't have the patience. I can look with satisfaction at the yard wide area just weeded and it encourages me to go on. I have to do this 2x each summer.
I hope someone has a better solution as I will not use weed killers and dislike insect repellents. The job involves blood donation on my part.