How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden
If you want to make a "hummingbird garden," here are some simple tips to get you started. The birds can be a bit particular, so make sure you don't do anything that will send them away, or harm them!
Hummingbirds love certain flowers, and tend to also be attracted to red. For starters though, you might think about planting bee balm, columbine, cosmos and dahlias. They also love morning glory, petunias, zinnias or honeysuckle. There is actually quite an abundance of flowers you can plant to attract your hummingbird.
Since they love the color red, you can try to add accessories to your garden area in that color. Red furniture, ribbons, yard decorations or even red sculptures in your garden will be particularly attractive to them. Even if you have an old red wagon, you can use that in or near your garden and plant flowers inside of it. Make sure it has proper drainage on the bottom.
It's a great idea to add a red bird feeder as well. It's been shown that hummingbirds like to feed at 12-15 feet above ground. Fill the feeder with 1 part sugar to 3 parts boiled (and cooled) water. This makes delicious nectar that your hummingbird will love. Clean out the feeder every 3 days and replace with a new mixture. Do not hang this directly in the sun, it will spoil the nectar. Also, don't add honey to the mixture, it can grow a fungus that will kill the hummingbird. You can also tie red ribbons to it to make it easier to see for them. Do not add anything to the mixture, as it could sicken the hummingbird. If you want to add more than one feeder to your yard, hang them roughly 30 feet apart from each other.
You will want to offer nesting materials as well. They love "soft" materials such as ferns and moss for their nests. Have fresh water available for them at tall times, for drinking and for bathing. Provide places for them to perch, such as a small tree or bush, they spend the majority of their time resting.
Avoid pesticides if you can, they will kill the insects that hummingbirds eat. It can also make the hummingbirds sick or kill them, not to mention the other wildlife that might visit your garden.
Having a great hummingbird population in your garden can be quite an experience for you, and your family!
Published by Cee Belair
Working mom of 3. View profile
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