As a young boy growing up in Brentwood, Mark Acasio learned early on how to make a job his own.

“Back in the day, Brentwood was such a small community that you could literally walk around town with a lawnmower and knock on doors,” said Acasio, 44. “I started out mowing lawns to help out my parents, and I guess it just took off from there.”

Today, Acasio is the owner and operator of Creative Yards of Brentwood and for the past 23 years has been bringing his enthusiasm, expertise and one-of-a-kind creations to East County residences.

Acasio specializes in designing custom yards that are both functional and beautiful, offering homeowners their private piece of paradise. From tropical to rustic, water features to rock gardens, Creative Yards does it all – from conception to construction.

For those thinking about taking the landscape plunge but are novices at the game, Acasio believes the simplest place to start is at the beginning.

“I always tell my clients that the first thing to do is draw out what they want and what kind of budget they have,” he said. “Do they want water features, lots of trees, plants that are easy to care for or something more exotic? They don’t have to know exactly, just an idea. I can create anything. Then I can come and help them develop that plan based on their yard size and walk them through the phases from beginning to end.”

As for trends? According to Acasio, the shift is toward families staying home and enjoying their yards. “The main thing people are doing because money is tight is turning their yards into their vacation,” he said. “Because of the economy, more and more people are staying home. So I help make their yards their own private resorts.”

Since Acasio and his family are longtime Brentwood residents, he’s a familiar face around town. But Oakland Raiders fans might be surprised to know that the mild-mannered Acasio should be familiar to them for another reason – as the face of Raiders mascot Gorilla Rilla.

“People don’t always make the connection because I don’t work in the gorilla suit,” laughed Acasio, who has been the Raiders’ faithful booster for the past 16 years. “But when they do, it’s fun. The gorilla is all good.”

And it’s all good for Acasio, who continues to take satisfaction in transforming yards into beautiful, one-of-a-kind creations – and get dirty in the process.

“I get paid to play in the dirt and make people happy,” said Acasio. “I’m a lucky man, yes I am. I not only get to stop and smell the roses, I get to plant them, too.”

For more information, call Creative Yards at 925-513-1012.

To check out more trends in gardening this season, visit www.bhg.com/gardening/gardening-trends/top-garden-trends.