How to Plant a Hummingbird Garden: A Step-by-step Guide

A Hummingbird garden is basically a garden that provides food, shelter, water, and other necessary things to  Hummingbirds. Hummingbird Garden can play a beneficial role in many ways such as propagation, and implantation process.

It also attracts a variety of pollinating insects such as butterflies, bees, etc. This article will evaluate the process of making a hummingbird garden step by step in terms of understanding Hummingbirds, planting a Hummingbird garden, choosing plants that are suitable for hummingbirds, creating a nectar station, providing proper shelter, maintenance, and care, and natural view by observing and enjoying hummingbirds. 

Understanding Hummingbird

To make a hummingbird garden it is very important to understand and know their features very well. Hummingbird is a small bird which is around 2-4 inches in size. They are also known for their mid-air and high metabolism systems.

These small bodies can have big appetites where they can consume up to 12 times their body weight in nectar every day. They can also have a strong preference for flowers with their long tongues and beaks. It can also fly backwards with its small wings.

To know their behaviour and preferences, people can easily build up a connection and make a relatively garden for hummingbirds. Flowers that are bright colours and produce the most nectar, Hummingbirds are more concerned and particularly attracted to those flowers such as daylilies, lupins, and Colombians.

Planning Hummingbird Garden

After understanding Hummingbird characteristics and behaviour patterns one can go for planting a garden for those tiny birds. The ideal or best location for a hummingbird garden will be more nature friendly to them.

They do not need a big garden or a wide range of gardens. Even a flower box or trellises can be a suitable garden for them to use. Gardens which have hummingbird plants it’s more convenient and attract more birds.

Hummingbirds prefer partial sun and shelter to live. A balanced and diverse ecosystem is a must needed element for hummingbirds and their surviving spirit in nature through different kinds of flowering plants, shrubs, trees, and excessive heat.

Hummingbirds like more nature-friendly places rather than cities that have fewer flowering plants for food and trees for nesting. 

Selecting hummingbird friendly plants

Hummingbirds are generally attracted to those flowers that have more flowering plant elements in them for them to find food and nest. Tubular tends to be their favourite flower, especially in red colour. These flowers are suitable for their long, thin beaks. Red columbine, Salvia, trumpet honeysuckle, delphinium,  and cardinal flowers attract hummingbirds the most.

Trumpet vine and cypress vine are two types of vine that attract hummingbirds and are also suitable for a beautiful hummingbird garden. It is very important to have a diverse area of flowers, shrubs and vines that will attract and nourish hummingbirds in the hummingbird garden. Trumpet vines’ blooming season starts from summer to fall with the colour of red or orange.

These flowers serve immense nectar as a valuable food source. Salvia’s blooming season starts from spring to fall with various colour combinations such as red, purple and blue.

Colombine’s blooming season starts from spring to early summer and it has various colour series throughout the blooming process such as red, yellow, pink and purple. Cardinal flowers are bright red-coloured flowers that bloom during summer to early fall. 

Creating a Nectar Station For Hummingbirds

In the hummingbird garden, a nectar station plays a vital role. This nectar station provides reliable food sources and proper energy to these birds. Hummingbird feeders are also essential for offering a variety of sources. Feeders should be bright colours such as red which will attract hummingbirds because they are naturally driven to those bright colours. 

The best mix of nectar-rich for hummingbirds would be a 1:4 ratio of sugar and water. The combination of 1 cup of sugar and 4 cups of boiled water provides a mix of nectar-rich to hummingbirds as well.  Avoid using artificial colour or artificial sweeteners, honey. It can harm them in various ways. Refill the feeders with fresh nectar within a couple of days so that they can have fresh water or food.

While providing them fresh nectar one should maintain hygiene and cleanliness guidelines such as frequently cleaning the feeders and clean water. Avoid using chemical soap for cleaning the feeder. By cleaning and maintaining proper hygiene,  one can give safe and reliable nectar stations to hummingbirds. 

Providing shelter and perches

Hummingbirds also need suitable shelter and perching spots in the garden. Trees, shrubs and other necessary things are required for welcoming hummingbirds into the garden. First, is nesting sites where hummingbirds can lay their eggs and raise their child. Trees, shrubs, and vines with dense foliage give hummingbirds a safe and secure place for nesting.

The Mimosa tree is one of the favourite trees of hummingbirds. It has a lot of branching while growing. It is a fast-growing small tree which looks really charming when it fully blooms. Hummingbirds also need perches for resting and observing their surroundings and nature also. Small trees, trellises and other structural shrubs provide the best spot for perching.

These trees and shrubs not only provide shelter to our hummingbirds but also give protection from outer nature and predators. It acts like a barrier to protect them and their nest from outer space and predators.

By giving them trees, shrubs and other structures that offer nesting and perching sites and protection, one could make friendly hummingbirds nature and surroundings around them. These features will make the garden more attractive and charming for hummingbirds. 

Maintenance and care

Frequent maintenance and care are a must for a hummingbird garden. With proper care and maintenance plants of the hummingbirds garden remain healthy, and insects, pests and diseases are also controlled. The hummingbird garden looks more appealing and attractive to hummingbirds. Weeding and pruning, cutting the plants and flowers timely so that their blooming and growing can happen properly.

Remove spent flowers regularly to have better production in the garden. Thinning out dense growth reduces the high risk of diseases, especially fungal infections. Removed dead or diseased brunch so that other brunches are not affected by those.

Watering the plants timely is also necessary so that our plants and flowers have healthy growth. Having a proper soiling and fertilisation process can give better results. Generally, early spring, late summer and early fall is the best time for fertilisation.

Observing and enjoying Hummingbird

Apart from all their caring and gardening, people also need to observe this beautiful creature on this earth. They need to observe them and enjoy the sights in their garden. It not only refreshes their mind but also they get a positive vibe from them. People can choose a particular time for observing them in a day.

Mostly dawn and dusk or early in the morning can be the best time to observe them and enjoy their view or sights. People can also observe hummingbirds by taking pictures. Still, they need to give them privacy of their own.

Making a documentary on their lives and their visits can also make them engage in it. This will motivate them and give them a positive vibe of nature, earth and the beautiful creation of nature through observing and enjoying. 

Conclusion

Hummingbirds are beautiful creatures of this earth. A hummingbird garden can give a certain refreshment and delight to mankind.

People can have a better understanding of their characteristics, behavioural patterns and their food habits by creating a hummingbird garden. By creating a hummingbird garden with proper planning, selective