As dawn breaks over the mountainous horizon, my front door is bathed in sunlight. Gazing out at the vibrant blooms that adorn my porch, I’m suddenly treated to a tiny, iridescent visitor. The hummingbird’s whirring wings beat at an astonishing 80 times per minute, a symphony of delight. It’s a familiar morning ritual: watching these tiny avian friends flit about my storm door, their fascination with the flowers that surround me mirrored by my own joy in their company.
But how do I entice these hummingbirds to return year after year? The answer, surprisingly straightforward.
How to Attract Hummingbirds
One way to ensure a warm welcome for hummingbirds is to create a hummingbird-friendly environment that caters to their unique needs. Start by providing a constant source of nectar, either through sugar-water feeders or flowers that are rich in nectar like trumpet-shaped blooms and salvias. Make sure the feeders are clean and well-maintained to prevent mold growth, which can harm these delicate creatures.
Additionally, consider adding some hummingbird-pollinated plants to your garden, as they will not only provide a sweet treat but also attract other beneficial insects and pollinators.
Paint Your Yard Red
Hummingbirds are naturally drawn to the vibrant color red. While painting your grass crimson isn’t necessary, incorporating various shades of red into your outdoor space can significantly increase their visitation frequency. To entice these tiny creatures, consider adding a few red accent pieces throughout your yard.
One approach is to introduce bold, eye-catching elements like a bright red bench, chair or picnic table on your front porch.
Alternatively, you could add some festive flair with red flags or a striking red umbrella. For a more subtle touch, incorporate smaller red details such as colorful flags, pillows for your porch swing, or other decorative accents.
If you’re looking to take it up a notch, consider adding some pops of red to your home’s exterior, like vibrant shutters or a bright red mailbox.
Plant Flowers for the Hummingbirds
According to various sources, including Almanac. com, hummingbirds have a natural affinity for certain flowers. To encourage their return year after year, it’s essential to plant species that attract them. Some of the most effective include cardinal flowers, geraniums, begonias, hollyhocks, flowering tobacco, morning glories, impatiens, and eucalyptus. In fact, I’ve had great success with petunias every year.
By planting a few of these vibrant blooms near your home, you’ll likely entice the hummingbirds to visit and make them feel welcome.
Plant Shrubs for Them Too
While many people think they need to replant the same flowers every year to attract hummingbirds, this isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, incorporating shrubs that are perennials can provide a consistent source of sustenance for these birds. Certain shrubs, such as azaleas, butterfly bushes, and honeysuckle, are particularly appealing to hummingbirds. Our property is home to an abundance of honeysuckle, which we’re sure contributes to the hummingbirds’ frequent visits.
By incorporating these types of shrubs near your home, you can create a hummingbird-friendly haven that will attract them to your outdoor space.
Say No to Pesticides
When it comes to attracting hummingbirds, it’s crucial to avoid using pesticides on the plants you’re cultivating. This is because if these plants are a source of nectar for the hummingbirds, exposing them to pesticides could have devastating consequences. In fact, it would be utterly counterproductive to harm or kill the very creatures you’re trying to attract. As such, it’s essential to keep this important consideration in mind as you work to draw hummingbirds to your property.
Create a Continuous Blooming Schedule
When creating a hummingbird-friendly garden, consider the blooms as a perpetual calendar for these birds. Avoid planting species that will all burst into flower simultaneously and then rapidly decline, leaving no consistent nectar source behind. Instead, design your garden with a staggered bloom schedule in mind. Start with one plant that will be the first to flower, followed by another, and so on.
This deliberate approach ensures a continuous supply of sweet treats, keeping the hummingbirds engaged and motivated to visit your yard regularly.
Deadhead Blooms
When it comes to hummingbird-friendly gardens, many people are unaware of a simple yet effective technique called deadheading. In essence, deadheading involves removing dead or dying blooms from plants, allowing them to focus their energy on producing new flowers. This practice can have a profound impact on the overall attractiveness and bounty of your garden, as well as its appeal to our feathered friends.
By encouraging more blooms in your yard, you’re effectively increasing the availability of food sources for hummingbirds, thereby incentivizing them to frequent your property. As such, by maintaining vibrant, thriving plants that consistently produce nectar-rich flowers, you’re essentially creating an inviting oasis that hummingbirds will eagerly return to.
Hummingbird Feeders
When it comes to attracting hummingbirds, Hummingbird feeders are an excellent addition to your property. While these feeders can be a great starting point, there’s more to consider to draw them in effectively. To get their attention, you’ll want to combine your feeder with a couple of other key elements. One crucial aspect is the color and design of your feeder itself. Specifically, choose one that’s bright red and vibrant.
This striking hue will help capture a hummingbird’s eye as they soar through the sky, making it more likely for them to visit your feeder.
Homemade Nectar
While hummingbirds naturally gravitate towards natural nectar sources, there are instances where offering them homemade nectar can be beneficial – particularly during early or late seasons when they may need a little extra sustenance. The reasoning behind this approach is that many believe hummingbirds have a preference for homemade nectar over store-bought varieties. Furthermore, creating your own nectar at home is surprisingly straightforward.
Simply combine one part sugar with four parts water, then bring the mixture to a boil for about a minute or two. It’s essential to note, however, that when making this homemade nectar, you should avoid adding any red food dye, honey, or other sweeteners. These additives can be detrimental to the hummingbirds’ health.
Add More Red to the Feeders
To boost visibility and attract more hummingbirds, consider adding a pop of color to your feeders. One simple trick is to wrap a bright red or orange ribbon around the feeder to create a striking visual cue. Alternatively, you can use vibrant red nail polish to add an extra layer of allure. For added flair, incorporate red glitter or sparkles into the design. If you’re feeling creative, hang the feeder from a bold red hook to make it truly hard to miss.
Take Care of the Nectar in the Feeders
To ensure the health and freshness of your bee feeders, make sure to fill them only half full with nectar mixture. This is because prolonged exposure to air can cause the mixture to mold. Additionally, schedule regular checks on your feeders every 3-4 days to determine whether they need to be refilled or if it’s time to replace the nectar altogether.
Add More Feeders
When observing hummingbird behavior, you may notice that certain species can exhibit strong territorial tendencies, particularly males. As a result, it’s crucial to monitor your feeder setup and identify any dominant males that might be chasing away other hummingbirds. If this is the case, adding an additional feeder could be the solution. You have two primary options: first, you can install a new feeder on the opposite side of your property, out of view from the original one.
This way, the dominant male won’t notice the presence of other hummingbirds at the secondary feeder. However, there’s a risk that another dominant male will discover the new feeder and drive the other hummingbirds away as well. Alternatively, you can maintain the original feeder and install a cluster of feeders nearby. This setup will attract a variety of hummingbirds to multiple feeding stations, making it impossible for one dominant male to defend all the additional feeders.
Add a Mister
You can enhance your garden experience with a simple yet effective device called a mister. This small tool attaches to your garden hose, producing a gentle mist that’s perfect for creating a unique attraction for hummingbirds. One popular way to utilize this feature is by setting up a shallow bird bath, providing a refreshing spot for these birds to bathe and socialize. Alternatively, you can install the mister itself, which becomes a fun playground for hummingbirds.
They’ll zip back and forth through the mist, getting as wet or dry as they please before flying off to nearby feeders, feeling like royalty of the garden.
Give Them a Perch
When attracting hummingbirds, it’s essential to consider providing them with perches to rest on. Just as these birds need refueling at feeders, they require safe spots to observe their surroundings and catch a quick snack. To create an inviting haven for your hummingbird friends, start by installing a sturdy stick in the ground, vertically positioned. This perch should be placed approximately 50 feet away from the feeder, yet still within visual range.
By doing so, you’ll encourage hummingbirds to feed, take flight, and then return to their perch for a bird’s-eye view of potential threats and tasty insects flying by.
Tie a Ribbon Around Your Landscaping
To attract hummingbirds to your yard, utilize any available ribbon or caution tape. The key is to create visual interest with bright, vibrant colors. Attach yellow, red, or orange ribbons to your shrubs or trees, as these hues are particularly enticing to hummingbirds in flight. As they investigate the novel colors, their curiosity will drive them to land in your yard and explore further. With a little luck, you may just gain a new feathered friend for the year.
Look for Plants That Are Easy to Drink From
Hummingbirds have long been misunderstood creatures when it comes to their nectar-gathering habits. While many believe they simply stick their bills into a plant and suck up the sweet treat, reality paints a different picture. In fact, these tiny birds insert their long beaks into the bell-shaped flowers, quickly lapping up the nectar with their tongues. This unique feeding behavior requires specific flower structures to facilitate easy access.
So, if you’re looking to attract these charming creatures, it’s essential to choose plants with bell-like shapes that allow them to dine in comfort. The good news is that we’ve already identified 15 options for hummingbird-friendly flowers that can transform your yard into a veritable oasis. If you’re eager to learn more, please share your thoughts on whether this endeavor is worth the effort or if you employ alternative methods to draw these avian visitors to your property.
Do you have a favorite method for attracting hummingbirds? We’d love to hear from you and learn about your experiences.
