Numerous things can be done to attract hummingbirds to your garden. Some easy adjustments can be made to make your garden hummingbird friendly, so that you are rewarded with the presence of feeding and nesting hummingbirds alongwith their young ones.

As most of the birds, hummingbirds virtually have no sense of smell. Apparently, these birds depend on sites and are directed by the flowers to find their nectar source. Some of the plants which you can consider to plant in your garden to attract the birds are, cardinal flowers, bee balm, columbine, cypress vine, honeysuckles, petunias, geraniums, fuchsias, Indian paintbrush, salvia, mimosa, azalea, manzanite, butterfly bush, etc. If you are having any doubts regarding their growth in your area, check with the local nursery to find which of them will grow in your garden.

When using your own hummingbird nectar for the feeders you must never add artificial red coloring to them. The red colors of the feeders are enough to attract them. Also, use of honey or artificial sweeteners has to be avoided. Artificial sweeteners do not have any food value and honey ferments easily which can cause sores in the mouth of the birds. The hummingbird feeders in your garden have to be cleaned every 3-4 days and the nectar changed to keep on attracting the birds.

If you notice molds on your feeder, you have to scrub them out with a bottle brush. If you are unable to reach them with the brush, adding some sand and water and shaking the feeder will remove these molds. You should never try to clean the feeders with harsh detergent or soaps as the birds do not like any traces of soap left in the feeder. Hot water should be used to rinse out the feeder each time the nectar is changed. A little amount of white vinegar can also be used with the water for rinsing.

Planting a hummingbird garden with their favorite plants will attract more and more of the birds. A few plants which you can consider planting are manzanita, butterfly busch, azalea, honeysuckle, bee balm, coral bells, columbine, cardinal flowers, petunia, shrimp plant, etc. You should note that none of these plants have to be red colored to attract the birds. Also, you can check with your local nursery if having any doubts, whether any of them will flourish in your garden area.

Avoid using pesticides in your hummingbird garden as they can kill or sicken the birds if consumed. Also, the insects you want to kill off can serve as good protein source to the birds. Sometimes, the male hummingbirds may try to chase away the other hummers from the feeders. To prevent this you can add several other feeders to your garden.

Your garden and feeders can be invaded by insects like ants and bees which can drive away the hummingbirds. Using nectar protectors, moats and feeders with built-in bee guards will prevent this, and ensure the continued arrival of the hummingbirds.