Question
My very small, fenced in(with a wooden high fence) back yard to my condo(in Southern CA) is a mess.  What little grass there was is gone and it is virtually a dirt pit and mud hole when it rains.  I have 2 dogs and the whole situation is a mess.  I got estimates on tiling or putting slate down and they are so epensive.  Do you have any suggestions for any knid of landscaping that will work with 2 dogs?  Is there any kind of grass that will grow back there?

Answer
Hi Mary, Probably not.  Grasses are sun loving plants.  A few will survive with some shade, but you also have the added stress of soil compaction from the dogs.  Even shade loving groundcovers will probably suffer from the dogs.  With a very small yard, I'd consider covering the entire area with landscape fabric, covering the fabric with your choice of mulch (wood, pea gravel, etc.) planting a few foundation plants in the corners and then put most of my garden in containers.  It will be easy to clean-up after the dogs, no weeding and quite attractive.  Jim