The mild winter the Arklatex is experiencing has the grass already growing again. And the unusually warm weather means green for more than just the grass. Frank Thaxton, owner of Xscapes Landscaping, says the extra winter business is welcome after last year's hot, dry climate. "It's actually a lot more busy than the summer was," Thaxton said. "Everything is growing. Some stuff has died, but some stuff hasn't. It's kind of back and forth but it's still pretty busy."The early spring makes for a good season already for other business, too. Paul Sutherland, owner of Commercial Power Equipment of Shreveport, says this time of year his company is normally doing pre-spring cleaning and maintenance. "Right now everything is growing," said Sutherland. "You've got a lot of weeds growing, winter time stuff. If we keep these 65-70 degree days, once it gets to where it starts holding that at night, then the grass will start waking up and the season will kick off."But last year's drought means a lot of dead trees in Northwest Louisiana and East Texas this year. LSU Ag Center area forestry agent Ricky Kilpatrick says every bit of rain we get helps. But it could be too little, too late for many trees. "A lot of these trees may be too far gone," Kilpatrick said. "But every bit we get helps because back in 2010 we didn't have a lot of rain in the winter. And a lot of trees that were already under stress leafed out and then died. And so that will reduce that the more water we can get in the ground right now."The LSU Ag Center is hosting a forestry forum next month for land owners interested in more information on the issue. The forum is at the Holiday Inn on Financial Plaza, Thursday, March 8, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. To learn more about the forum, contact the local Ag Centers by (318) 965-2326.