bee on purple flower

When Less is More: A Lazy Gardener’s Guide to Supporting Pollinators

Published - July 9, 2026 Read
red flowered plant in a garden

Top Five Hummingbird Plants for Central North Carolina

Published - July 9, 2026 Read
Dogfennel in field

How to Manage Dogfennel

Published - June 5, 2026 Read
4-H Youth Development
Family and Consumer Sciences
Lee McSwain Policies and Procedures

Learn how reserve the McSwain Center for meetings and events
Pollinator Haven Garden

Learn about the Garden, how to visit and how to get involved
Gardening and Lawns in Lee County

Learn how to take care of your garden and lawn in Lee County

Lee County Cooperative Extension Monthly Newsletter

Dive into our monthly newsletter below and catch the latest buzz!

July Extension Newsletter - Lee County Center

News From Lee County Center

garden certification sign in a yard
Connect the Plots: Celebrating Pollinators in Lee County with Yard Certifications

Published - June 2, 2026

Photo of Annual Knawel
What is Annual Knawel?

Published - May 26, 2026

unripe peaches in a tree
Why You Should Remove Fruit From Your Fruit Trees

Published - May 26, 2026

flower buds infected with fungus
Who’s dusting my crape myrtles? Powdery mildew!

Published - May 20, 2026

Photo of Small's Ragwort
What is Small’s Ragwort?

Published - May 19, 2026

purple flower in field
May All Your Weeds Be Wildflowers

Published - May 12, 2026

Photo of White clover leaflets
How to Manage White Clover

Published - May 11, 2026

beetle grubs laying in a hand
Don’t Let the Grubs Bug You: A Guide to Healthy Turf

Published - May 5, 2026

All News From Lee County Center

Upcoming Events

Today
Brick City Clovers 4-H Club Meeting Sunday | Jul 12 | 3:00 PM — 5:00 PM
Vermicomposting at Hugger Mugger Brewing Monday | Jul 13 | 6:30 PM — 8:00 PM
National Be Nice to Bug Day Tuesday | Jul 14 | All Day
Sanford Farmers' Market - Regular Board Meeting Tuesday | Jul 14 | 5:30 PM — 7:30 PM 2420 Tramway Rd, Sanford, NC 27330, USA
Lee County Livestock Producer’s Association Meeting Tuesday | Jul 14 | 6:30 PM — 7:30 PM 2420 Tramway Rd, Sanford, NC 27330, USA
View All Events

News From NC State Extension

Color Coded Drought Map of NC showing most of the state in moderate to Exceptional drought. With North Central and South Central the driest
Landscape Tips for Drought

Published - July 8, 2026

From: Gardening
Joanna Radford and Surry County CES Staff
Supporting Farms, Inspiring Youth: A Conversation with Joanna Radford

Published - July 6, 2026

From: Local Food
Hive of honey bees with bees clustered and hanging on the front or 'bearding' due to extremely high daytime temperature.
What Should I be doing in the apiary this month? July

Published - July 1, 2026

From: Pollinators
An array of adaptive tools
Beyond Access: A Celebration of Adaptability

Published - July 1, 2026

From: Therapeutic Horticulture
Table with Red header showing the Rate, Application Interval, and RKN Counts for three pesticides.
Center Update: Biology and Management of Turf Diseases in NC: Focusing on Root-Knot Nematode and the Turfgrass Microbiome

Published - June 29, 2026

From: TurfFiles
North Carolina 4-H Shooting Sports delegation posing together after the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships, many displaying medals and ribbons.
North Carolina Finishes Sixth Overall at National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships

Published - June 29, 2026

From: North Carolina 4-H
bumble bees on obedient plant
Register Now for a Summer Tour of the Pollinator Paradise Garden!

Published - June 29, 2026

From: Growing Small Farms
CAFMS Coordinator Lindsey Hosier holds up a “duff brownie” (thick layer of duff) to better understand its structure and potential for smoldering.
What is Duff and Why Does it Matter When Conducting Prescribed Burns?

Published - June 29, 2026

From: Extension Forestry
Downy wood mint with lanceleaf coreopsis
Early Spring 2026 Snapshots From Extension’s Pollinator Paradise Garden

Published - June 29, 2026

From: Growing Small Farms
4-H member speaks to judges while presenting on xenobots during Northeast District Activity Day.
"Learning by Doing" on Display at 2026 District Activity Days

Published - June 27, 2026

From: North Carolina 4-H
All News From NC State Extension