Attract hummingbirds to your flower garden

One of the most exciting visitors that you can spot in your flower garden can oftentimes be the most elusive. Hummingbirds are busy little creatures that are always flitting around in a hurry. These delicate birds are desired by many people in their flower gardens, and with a little planning you can attract hummingbirds with great success.

Hang a hummingbird feeder (20% Off All Hummingbird Feeders! Shop Now with Code WBHB3!)

The simplest thing you can do to attract hummingbirds to your yard is to hang a hummingbird feeder. The feeder will provide a constant source of nectar for them to feed on, which is important for keeping them in your yard. The hummingbird feeder should have bright red parts on it because the birds are most attracted to that color. To start encouraging hummingbirds to use the feeders, try hanging them in an area near flowers that attract hummingbirds.

Plant plenty of nectar-producing flowers  (FREE SEEDS)

Planting a flower garden with hummingbirds in mind is the best way to attract them to your yard. Hummingbirds are attracted to colorful trumpet-shaped flowers, especially red ones. They do not have a strong sense of smell like bees do, but they have incredible eyesight, making the color and shape of the flowers very important. To start out, try planting some flowers that have proven success with attracting hummingbirds, such as bee balm, columbine, cardinal flower, phlox, hollyhock, lupine or salvia. Hybrid blooms tend to produce less than their natural counterparts, so keep that in mind while planning your flower garden.

Create the right environment

In addition to providing hummingbirds with the appropriate sources of food, check your yard to make sure it is a place that hummingbirds would want to live. Female hummingbirds will be more likely to frequent your yard if they have plenty of nectar and somewhere suitable to build a nest and raise their babies. Trees with soft foliage such as bottlebrush, eucalyptus or willow are great additions to a hummingbird garden because the mother hummer will use them for nest-building materials. Even if you don't have these trees, though, you can still possibly get hummingbird nests in your yard. Make sure there are plenty of spots that are safe from the wind for them to choose from, or buy hummingbird houses to create safe environments for them.

There should also be plenty of sun and shade in the yard. While they love to zip around in the sun, they need shady areas to cool down and build nests. Adding a birdbath in a shaded flower garden is also a good idea because it will give them a steady source of water.