Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden

It isn't necessary to have the perfect English garden to attract hummingbirds to your garden. Of course this is the garden I wish for, but alas, my gardener has retired and the work is left to me. With little time and limited space for a big garden, I have found an easy way to attract these friendly little visitors to my little piece of Tennessee. 

Just follow these 4 simple tips to attract and keep hummers in your garden.  

Tip #1 - Put your hummingbird feeders out early. And by early, I mean by late March here in Tennessee. You may not see hummingbirds for weeks, but your goal is to catch those migrating north in hopes they will be enticed to stay and then ultimately return to your garden year after year. 

I use inexpensive hummingbird feeders and I hang them on my front porch and back porch eaves. Separating the feeders to the front and back of your property will keep the territorial males from fighting as much as they normally would. 

Your hummingbird mixture should be sugar and water mixed at a 1:4 ratio. 1 cup of white sugar to 4 cups of water.  I usually make mine and let it sit overnight to allow the chlorine to dissipate.
 Never put red dye in the water or use hummingbird mixes with red dye.
 Red dye is a chemical and could be harmful to hummingbirds.

Be sure and change the water in your feeders every 3-5 days
 to keep it fresh and free of mold and mildew.

Tip #2 - Plant a variety of colorful perennials, annuals or almost any tubular type plant in your garden. Hummingbirds have a great sense of sight and are attracted to yellow, orange, pink, purple and especially RED. My favorite plants for attracting hummingbirds are Lady in Red salvia and Monarda (Bee Balm). I buy mine at Graceful Gardens and highly recommend them if you want to start a cottage garden.

Hummingbird and Salvia (Lady in Red)
This plant is an annual. In some areas it will reseed year after year.
 

Hummingbird and Monarda (Bee Balm)
This plant is a perennial and will spread nicely to fill in your garden. And it smells delicious!

Tip #3 - Use a gazing ball, bird bath or other red garden art to help attract hummingbirds to your garden. Your goal is to catch their eye as they are migrating. Then have your feeders ready to entice them to stay. 

This gazing ball is sure to capture the attention of a curious and hungry hummingbird.

Paint on old rickety chair and place it in your garden.
It's an inexpensive and unique way to add a splash of red.

Tip #4 - Add the sound of running water to your garden. It doesn't have
 to be a waterfall...just a trickle will entice all kinds of birds to your garden. 
This garden features a bird bath with a simple solar fountain and red and pink bee balm. You can find inexpensive solar fountain kits here.

The sound of moving water on this pot fountain attracts hummingbirds and it is shallow enough for them to enjoy a little splash.



Hummingbirds love these red pot fountains. You can find them at Kmart.



This may not be an English cottage garden, but it is the ideal garden to attract hummingbirds. Packed with color and a variety of tubular and nectar filled plants, it's sure to attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies to your garden.


In summary all you need to do to attract hummingbirds to your neck of the woods is 1) Put your feeders out early 2) Plant a variety of colorful plants in your garden 3) Add big splashes of red to your garden and 4) Add the sound of running or bubbling water to your garden. It's that simple. 


If you have other ideas for attracting hummingbirds to your garden, feel free to leave a comment.
 Happy Gardening Friends!
Gay Lena