One of my old clients ran a high end landscaping company in Toronto. She said that at her old house, which also had a small yard, they actually put in fake grass. I was skeptical until she showed me a picture. It looked fantastic!!! They had real flower beds down each side. They loved it as they never needed to cut it and it was always green. With the real gardens down the sides, I thought that a nice compromise. So far as natural, high traffic, dog pee resistant live greenery....let me know if you find something. My lawn is so very sad this year