You need to give us a zone and nearest city. Judging from the pic, you're in a fairly hot, dry place. My go-to lawn technique is to just mow, but, then, there's always something green growing where I've lived.

I live in central coast california. Arroyo grande

It might be worth your while to do some research on ground preparation. If you are thinking of a lawn, again research as it looks like it will need a bit of a work though to even it out. Researching grasses and their water requirements will be vital. Looks like it is fairly rough patch and really dry, and watering will be an issue.
If you move forward with grass - hiring a piece of going equipment to dig it over and some simple manure to buildup the soil might be effective. If you’re in a rural area there might be local farmers who could be source that’s cost effective.
Another option could be creating a bark play section, bordered to keep the bark in, with a semi permanent shade structure.
Fencing wise - maybe a basic star picket and chicken wire fence will do the trick.

Please check out via internet and parent exchange whether artificial turf is a serious problem transmitting bacteria for kids with skinned knees or other open cuts. There was a time when this was a very serious concern, but the problem may have been solved. Maybe everybody knows this but me, but I couldn't not mention it.

https://www.healthyplayingsurfaces.org/health

How old are the kids? Does it make any sense to have a simple pool for outdoor fun? One shot investment you can take with you.

https://www.wayfair.com/Intex--Intex-Round-Above-Ground-Swimming-Pool-1-L3177-K~IYZ11857.html?refid=GX602165565720-IYZ11857_73430741&device=c&ptid=1743371387424&network=g&targetid=aud-976909297908:pla-1743371387424&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=239423059&fdid=1817&PiID%5B%5D=73430741&gclid=CjwKCAjwr_CnBhA0EiwAci5sikjlsm9dJOB16JTfmwrPnSJQ7HiLCiLA33KRwoD1h_CsEMtcVrnzMBoCT-oQAvD_BwE

The least expensive fencing I know of is premade panels from a box store. Assume $60 per panel, $25 for a 4/4/8’, $10 for a bag of cement and $5 for screws that’s $100 per 8’. Quick math says you have just shy of 1200 lineal feet which would cost $1500 to fence ignoring your labor and tools.

$1,500 will be gone in no time; many concessions and creativity will be needed.

Privacy: place on a small section of patio

Daughter: How old is she/what are her needs. You could set up a play area to meet her needs (preferably with some sun protection). Ignore fake grass below as it would eat up your budget) and what you have should be fine, other than after heavy rain.

Dog: Pick a corner of yard to fence, to reduce the amount of fencing required and include shade and water.

Septic: if article doesn’t address your concerns, call the municipality. https://thetilth.com/septic-field/

Grass: https://thebackyardpros.com/alternatives-to-grass-lawn/

Have you lived in this area before? Six acres sounds like almost a guarantee of wildlife (I've got 13 in a very distant state, and yesterday my neighbor sent me a cellphone video of a bobcat exiting my property onto hers). So you probably do know the area, but if you don't, get with the long-time locals for info about leaving unattended water near your house, pet safety and also avoiding play structures where animals can hide.

The pool I suggested does come with covers. Not trying to sell you a pool, but I grew up in SoCal, and it's hot and water is fun.

Separate areas for dog and child. Is there an entrance to the house that could be designated the dog entrance, with the dog yard off of it? The t-posts with wire is appropriate for a child play area, and your landlord likely has both posts and wire that would be free for you to use. It’s easy to install. Ask. How big and active is your dog? The best thing for a dog is a permanent fence with hot wire on the inside about 18” up which will keep most dogs from climbing over or digging under. You don’t have the budget to do an underground electric fence, which can be used in lieu of hot wire, nor to you have the budget for a tall, strong, dog proof fence. You’d be surprised at what some dogs will do to get out of a fence.

why are you making capital improvements to a rented home?

i have 5 acres.. my toddlers never left the property.. as they never walked that far away.. and when they got old enough to go that far.. they knew better.. to stay in my sight line...

i would put up shade cloth and let the kids play in the sand...

i would not cover mother earth in plastic .. its against nature ...

ken

why are you making capital improvements to a rented home?

i have 5 acres.. my toddlers never left the property.. as they never walked that far away.. and when they got old enough to go that far.. they knew better.. to stay in my sight line...

i would put up shade cloth and let the kids play in the sand...

i would not cover mother earth in plastic .. its against nature ...

ken

you definitely need to get with the neighbors and the landlord about the lay of the land. You don't want to invest time and money into creating something that is going to turn into a lake in the November rains. I'm sure there are answers, but you're in an environment unfamiliar to most people, so people who've been raising kids in the same spot probably have the best advice and are not big spenders.

I put fake grass down on all my low level decking last year and this year (it is not cheap) I love it it has drainage hoolles all over so the raindrains off so did the snow melt. I would not plant grass anywhere in Ca. you have no water . I think a nice dog run for the dog and then a nice sand space for your child with a swing and mayb a pool both of which you take with you when you move . There are portable dog runs on Amazon that are quite affordable and again take it with you. I hve no clue how big your dog is but those runs come quite large .We have gravel in our huge dog run we have 3 big dogs . It is great it drains well and it is easy to see the poop and does not get very dirty in the rain .

Real grass would be a complete waste of money unless there is already irrigation in the spot.

As mentioned above, I would extend the patio with a shade cloth. I would lay some artificial artificial turf and a few toys under it for your daughter.

I would consider getting a covered kennel and/or a dog run you can take with you, a lot depends on the size and temperament of the dog.

I think you will need to rethink your budget. $1500 is not gonna get you very far. As noted, any kind of fence structure will eat up that amount in a heartbeat, even something as economical as hogwire or cattle panels,

Neither a turf grass lawn or artificial turf are viable options. A lawn makes no sense in a water starved, hot climate and artificial turf introduces plastics to the environment, heats up to uncomfortable temperatures in full sun and is very expensive to prep for and install.

I'm not sure how you work around the fence issue without increasing your budget. Or even how necessary fencing may be. I'd consider using wood playground chips for surfacing the area - cheap and safe. A sandbox, inflatable pool and some toys and it's kid-ready. The dog area may take some thought, especially if confining the animal is necessary. A portable kennel/dog run seems the most practical.

Any chance of help from your landlord to make the yard more usable? Any improvements made will benefit him in the long run so worth the effort to explore.

I am in Nor Cal, local store is selling wood fencing packages: $1,500 for 100 linear feet. eta, price is pickup, doest not include delivery nor installation. You may need $100-$200 for tools.

Fake grass is about $3/sq feet.

3/4” river rock is $200 ton pickup.

5 years ago, I spent $1,700 on 56 linear feet of installed 5’ tall chain link fencing.

" Fake grass is about $3/sq feet. "

That's for the cheapest grade.......prices go up from there. And the cost to prep the area and install will add at least another $10 per square foot. You are looking at a purchase, prep and installation cost of around $12-15 per square foot, minimum.

Sandbox with sand cover and shade cover under $200 from Wayfair, and no doubt you can find other options from other vendors, read reviews.

https://www.wayfair.com/outdoor/pdp/badger-basket-deluxe-465-x-57-solid-wood-square-sandbox-with-cover-bp1464.html?piid=

It's good to have shade cover and it's good not to be relying on the soil you have for anything. Ask around but very often that kind of arroyo (riverbed) soil is full of clay, which makes for fantastic mud baths when wet and turns into near concrete when it dried. So if daughter needs to get off the porch to have a good time, off-the-soil structures that can be secured against animals when not in use might be the way to go on a limited budget.

Whlle others tout the virtues of artificial turf, I'd still check out whether it works for your child's safety with respect to heat and cleanliness.

Shaded dog playpen under $400 from amazon

Under $150 from Amazon

And you can get $700 ones 3 times the size.

And you can still have some flowers to look at and a space for herbs and learning how to grow carrots

$125 from Wayfair

$50 from Walmart, watering can not included

For sure a big NO on the artificial turf. Even a very small 10'x10' area will eat up your entire budget. And that discounts the heat factor, which can be significant with high summer temperatures.

Better to spend your $1500 budget (or less!) on things that will benefit you, your daughter, and your dog directly. Level a small area of the yard around the patio and spread some mulch as a buffer area where needed to keep you/your daughter/your dog out of the dirt and provide a place to set up some of the activities listed below. Then hang shades between the posts and use an outdoor rug to define your upper level patio space. Add a couple comfy outdoor chairs, an outdoor speaker, a few low maintenance container plants, party lights, and unbreakable outdoor party ware. Then for darling daughter…a storage bin with bubbles, chalk, plastic paint cup/brush (to “paint” with water), a lidded sandbox filled with foam blocks, a baby pool, a water table, an outdoor mat for tumbling, and a gardening and or play table for planting or playing with blocks and such. Kids (and dogs) need to be nurtured and have opportunities to explore, play, create, and engage with nature…you can provide those experiences without creating/maintaining a yard. Hope this helps! Best wishes!

This a larger modular pet pen for under $500 to which could be added partial shade. However, if you are thinking of leaving a pet completely unattended in the yard, you need to make sure it is fully covered and secured on top with something strong enough to prevent another animal from entering

https://www.wayfair.com/pet/pdp/chickencoopoutlet-modular-fence-barrier-pet-pen-bick1026.html

With 6 acres and a toddler and all that heat and sunshine, I'd rig up a clothes line and save on utility bills. ;)

Hate to chain a dog, but ^^^is correct in that’s the least expensive option. Do not get one of those tiny “dog runs” pictured above. A ridiculous waste of money.

I think we need to know about the dog size , breed etc. I have fake grass on my almost whole deck we started by putting around the pool to keep your feet from burning and we love it still get a bit hot but nothing like the wood dck Did We have 2200 sqft of deck so we are slowly now converting all of it to fake grass it is awesome . Drains all the rain and snow mellt quickly and no upkeep except blowing off the leaves from perpetual windstorms this summer .

It should be made clear that the previous poster does not live in SoCal and does not experience anywhere the degree of heat the OP does so comparing her experience using AT to that of the OP is invalid.

And if it hasn't already been made abundantly clear, artificial turf or AT (not fake grass) is the least cost effective/most expensive way of dealing with this situation!!

Do NOT leave a dog chained outdoors in a wildlife predator area, and almost all of rural California is exactly that.

How many times are you going to post the same irrelevant and misleading info Patricia? Central California isn't Canada.

There is one other considerations about the dog. About 30 years ago we had a Lab that was an escape artist. We partially solved the problem with a long cable from the garage to a tree and a 30 foot runner that was attached to the cable.. The dog has a range of about 30 feet on the cable and then the 30 foot runner.

HOWEVER. In some parts of Carolina it is illegal to put a dog in you yard on a chain. So make sure you know the local animal regulations and how they apply to your animal.

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned is wind. I'm not sure how it is where you are, I am slightly farther South and East from you. The afternoon wind is no joke. Light materials like wood mulch, sunshades, or strips of fake turf would blow all over the place around here. I use rocks to hold down the indoor outdoor rug under my patio table.

A consideration might be how long you plan to live in the house. Taking a longer view - cultivating some shade trees might be worth considering with the landlord. It might take some dedication to find drought tolerant trees and to set up some bottle drip watering systems, then dedication to keep the water up . Once some trees are established ……..as I said , the longer view….

I think the OP has left the building. There have been a number of unanswered questions posted.

An alternative fencing would be to buy 6-ft T-posts and cattle panel. The cattle panel is 52-inches high and 16 feet long. If the dog is a digger, bury the panel down to 48 inches above ground. Pound the T-posts down to 48 inches every 8 feet, and wire the cattle panel to the posts. If you go this direction be sure your landlord is onboard with the project. He should pay for all materials if you do the labor, but he has to like the fence to begin with.

An alternative to grass has been mentioned - mulch. You can likely get many cubic yards of free mulch from a local tree trimmer. They will deliver it, but you may have to heft it from the front to the back yard. Artificial turf really should not be a consideration based on cost alone. Add to that it gets stinking hot under direct sun, it gets dirty and needs vacuuming or bathing, and dog urine dries on it making it stink. If the owner wants and will pay for grass, grass seed (bermuda) is a good one for minimal watering needs. If the owner is willing to pay more, the UC Verde variety of buffalo grass is very nice. Bermuda seeding should be done in June, so you missed the window pretty hard.

Do you get an afternoon sea breeze? I used to live 3 miles from the beach in SoCal and had to wear a light jacket after 2pm every day of the year. What is the summer daytime high temp?

With a limited budget, I would go with low cost DIY wire fencing.

Something like this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fencer-Wire-5-ft-x-100-ft-12-5-Gauge-Welded-Wire-Fence-with-Mesh-2-in-x-4-in-WB125-5X100M24/309734253

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-3-4-in-x-3-1-2-in-x-6-ft-Green-Steel-Fence-T-Post-with-Anchor-Plate-901176EB/205960892

It will not provide any privacy or keep out wildlife. But if installed properly, it should keep a dog fairly contained with supervision. I wouldn't leave the dog alone outside for long, but could be turned out to go to the bathroom or allowed off leash while you're out supervising the dog and the child. It's very low cost and shouldn't damage the property to enclose a portion of it to keep the dog contained.

For privacy, consider setting up some screens. Then focus on making a safe and fun play area for your child. That will probably give you much more enjoyment than trying to do full landscaping. You live in a desert so you cannot expect it to look like a grassy green paradise.

We had a 2x4 wire fence recently, but it required a wooden frame to keep it within our HOA rules. Here's a picture.

If you can get your hands on a bunch of free or cheap pallets, you can use Tposts and build a pallet fence pretty cheap.

https://www.thespruce.com/pallet-fence-ideas-7557348

Thank you all for your ideas and suggestions! Just to clarify, I live in central coast California, where it's breezy and wind is a factor. The dog is a puppy now but will grow to be a decent size Golden Retriever. I've decided against fake grass and will be leveling and rototilling the area before buying sod for a small portion and seeding the rest. I plan to stay here for at least two years and am in talks to potentially buy the property.

As for the dog: Train him on leash to use one specific spot , front or back, for his potty place.

Use a command. Until/unless he is trained to a perfect recall, never allow him outside off leash.

He will be a very content inside dog who can enjoy daily play and running time in a park(after being trusted to come on command), or on a long walk.

If he is allowed outside unleashed, you are at risk of losing him in various heart or gut wrenching ways. Think coyotes, automobiles , theft. or disappearance that will leave you sadly wondering for years to come.

Dogs thrive in New York City, for example, when cared for properly.

Think about rehomimng him if you’ve not the time or energy.

As for your daughter: recalling my childen ages 2-6, the only time spent in our nice, large grassy backyard was using the combo swingset-slide and fort. Lots of happy hours there. Put you money into a lovely one from Costco, for example. Place it on a bed of soft mulch.

This one is $1200-1400. Mine used until age 10 or so.

Given the pics in the OP and the location.... I'm going to guess the OP isn't paying the water bill if sod/grass seed is a consideration. Sod/grass seed is going to require a lot of water to establish and maintain. It requires a lot of water in wetter places, but that area looks very dry- not just the yard, the whole area looks very dry.

well, fortunately it is already fenced in, as per your list.

Horrible idea to restrict a dog to indoors except for a long walk and a few hours a week in a dog park. Dogs need hours of exercise daily, preferably living outside and only coming indoors occasionally.

" Horrible idea to restrict a dog to indoors except for a long walk and a few hours a week in a dog park. Dogs need hours of exercise daily, preferably living outside and only coming indoors occasionally. "

That depends a lot on the type of dog. Lots of different breeds do NOT need "hours of exercise" daily and can often achieve what exercise they need to keep happy and healthy indoors.

Were my pup to be left outdoors most of the day, he would be miserable and sit at the door whining until he was let inside. He would much rather be by my side than anywhere else. He would also be vulnerable to predators and thieves who would not be deterred by a flimsy short fence.

Pretty stupid remark, all in all. Do you even own a pet??

Mine did not show up. TREES! Plant trees! Spend your water on trees. Go to a local nursery, not a big box store and ask about trees.

Our dog loves to go outside for a short time. He lives in the house like us.

Rototilling is a rookie mistake in preparing for a new lawn. You will hate yourself every time you mow because the soil starts out level but increasingly becomes bumpy as the fluffy soil settles.

The professionals (true professionals) use a small tractor with a box blade attachment as shown here.

For a yard your size it will take less than an hour to hire someone skilled at leveling/profiling the soil. Every serious landscaper will have this equipment. If they don't they will try to use a skid steer or bobcat with a box blade, but those don't work as well. With a bobcat it might take all day or a second day. You're paying by the hour for those guys.