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How to Attract Hummingbirds

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November 10, 2019 by homemadeandhappy

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Want to learn how to attract hummingbirds? Below are 6 things you can do this spring to attract more hummingbirds to your yard.

My family moved to a new home about a year ago, and this past spring, for the first time, I was able to attract a large number of hummingbirds to our home!

All of the pictures and video in this post are my pictures, taken in my backyard between May and August.

We had so many hummingbirds, they were going through an entire feeder in less than one day, warranting a lot of trips to Costco to buy sugar 😉

I’ve so enjoyed these tiny, vibrant, super speedy birds, so I wanted to share the techniques we did this year to attract hummingbirds.

How to Attract Hummingbirds

Make Sure there is Food

It’s no wonder that hummingbirds are going to want to be where they have plenty to eat! Adding food for hummingbirds will entice them to visit.

There are three ways to provide food for hummingbirds:

  • Hummingbird Feeder: add a hummingbird feeder to your yard and fill it with hummingbird nectar. I make my own (boil 1 parts sugar and 4 parts water, and allow to completely cool before adding to the feeder), but you can also buy hummingbird nectar from Amazon, or your local store. Note: Empty and clean your feeder every 3 – 5 days, to make sure it is free from mold and other bugs.
  • Plants: hummingbirds love nectar-rich flowers. Some great flowers include impatiens, cardinal flower, petunias, honeysuckles, beebalm, and trumpet vines. To learn what native plants are best in your area to attract birds, check here.
  • Insects: many of us think hummingbirds only eat nectar, but they also eat insects and spiders. If you want to attract hummingbirds, consider skipping pesticides and insecticides in your yard.

Choose Plants with Continuous Blooming Schedule

When planning what flowers and plants to place in your yard this year, choose plants that have different blooming periods.

For instance, plant winter jasmine, creeping phlox, or creeping myrtle or other plants that bloom in the spring.

Then plant hibiscus, geraniums, and lavender that bloom in the summer.

Add some chrysanthemum, dianthus, and alyssum to your garden for flowers that bloom in the fall.

  • Find more flowers that bloom in the Spring
  • Learn which flowers bloom in the Summer
  • Find more flowers that bloom in the Fall

Add Red Flowers to your Garden

Hummingbirds have a heightened sensitivity to red flowers.

Consider adding some daylily, garden phlox, peonies, hibiscus, and penstemon to your garden, or other red flowers to attract hummingbirds.

Add Perches near their Food Source

Hummingbirds need perches to rest when they’re not eating.

Some great options for perches are trellises, clotheslines, and shrubbery. Make sure to provide some perches within viewing distance of the food source, as hummingbirds can be territorial.

Put out a Second Feeder

If you’ve ever watched hummingbirds, you likely know they can be extremely territorial and aggressive, swooping at other hummingbirds that come near the feeder.

To combat territorial birds, place two or three feeders in your yard, to ensure all of your hummingbirds have access.

Deadhead Flowers

Cutting off old blossoms (dead or wilted flowers) from your plants will help your plants to produce more flowers, attracting more hummingbirds into your yard.

Want to learn more? Here are 20 tips on how to attract hummingbirds.

Filed Under: Gardening

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