Weed control....am i getting fanatical?

It's par for the course I'm afraid

Do you hoe, this is much quicker than actual weeding?

It's got to be a hoe I fear!

But that way, you do everything the soil needs, right next to the plant.

Can I suggest that hoeing should be a very gentle pastime, not a chore...?

The time you'll spend will not be much different from trying to do too much at a time!

And finally, I think you've posted a very thoughtfull note, which deserves a lot of response. We're all busy, and need to sound out the opposition sometimes!

Nice one that!

Weeding is my most unfavourite job. So I do a thorough job in spring, and immediately spread a good mulch of old straw everywhere - in between plants, within the rows, and over any edges. After that it's merely pulling out the odd weed or two.

Many will argue that mulches attract slugs, but its way easier than constant weeding. You must do some tradeoffs for working those kinds of hours as my OH well knows (and does the same)

Yep, everyone is right --- where there are plants there are also those weeds 

Slow and steady is the way to go, whether it be swinging a hoe or down on your knees (I sit down 'cos I enjoy the little rest)

and never ever let enyhitng go to seed it you can possibly help it 

Yes you can use muck, black woven sheet mulch, cardboard, grass mowings, straw, compost. Anything that excludes light is the object of the exercise.  When you use manure you end up with a good moist soil come spring. Make sure it's a thick layer

If you use cow muck it should have fewer weed seeds in it. Horse muck seems to have lots of undigested grass in it which quickly sprouts.  Mind you, I don't ever turn my nose up at free poo from whatever animal it came from, but I would rot it down in my compost bins first.