How to Keep Hummingbirds in your Texas Summer Garden

Texas has about 18 species of hummingbirds. To keep them coning around you not only need a feeder but you will need the plants they find irresistible.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• plants that attract hummingbirds
• feeders
• sugar water

1. Hummingbird feeders are great to keep our little friends around but you also need some various flowering plants that provide the sweet nectar they love. Be sure and keep the feeders filled and changed every few days with a solution of one part sugar to 4 parts water. No red food coloring is needed as the red on the feeder will attract them.

2. Hummingbirds re attracted to the color red so any kind of flower that is red and also tube shaped is one they prefer. Some of the plants they like here in Texas are Bee Balm, Hibiscus, Phlox, Cardinal flower, Lantana and Salvia. All of these are easy to grow and love our dry, hot weather.

3. Cypress Vine is a good one to plant on a trellis or a fence and hummers like that tiered effect you can create. If you have tall trees, shorter shrubs, trellises, low grassy areas, then all of that provides what they are looking for...eating, resting, and perching sites. They also have access to all the flowers and feeders.

Tips & Warnings

• Change your mixture in your hummingbird feeders every few days especially in the heat of summer as the mixture is not good after that long.
• Red food coloring is not needed in the feeders
• Plant red flowering plants to attract hummers to your garden

Resources

• eHow Home and Garden Topic Guide