Prepare your garden for returning hummingbirds

The hummingbirds are back! After their winter vacation in Central America, they bravely began their migration back to our landscapes in January. Male hummingbirds departed first; females followed 10 days later. They made their way about 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico and then traveled northward across the eastern United States, following flowers and other food sources.

The first hummingbirds were spotted in our area on April 12, and lots more are on their way. What will they find when they arrive in your backyard?

Get those feeders out

It takes a lot of energy to beat their wings up to 80 times per second. Hummingbirds often eat their entire body weight or more every day. When they arrive in spring, there aren't enough flowers to provide adequate supplies of nectar, so they appreciate feeders filled with sugar water to supplement their diet.

Choose a feeder that is easy to clean, because they should be cleaned between every filling or every four or five days — whichever comes first. If hummingbirds are not drinking the nectar fast enough to empty the feeder, don't fill it all the way, so nectar isn't wasted. Feeders with cloudy water should be emptied and cleaned immediately.

Nectar can be purchased ready to use or as a concentrate at your local garden center, or you can make your own sugar water by dissolving 1 cup of cane sugar in 3 to 4 cups of bottled water. The unused portion will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. Do not use red food coloring.

Feeders should be hung at least 4 feet above the ground, so hummingbirds are out of the reach of predators while they drink. Reportedly, hummingbirds prefer to dine in the shade, but full sun doesn't stop hummingbirds from enjoying my feeders.

Hummingbirds are territorial and will defend “their” feeders. Hanging multiple feeders as far apart as possible will invite more hummingbirds into your yard while keeping the peace. And most importantly, place feeders near windows, so you can enjoy their aerial shenanigans.

Choose plants wisely

Choose a site in full sun and another in the shade. Hummingbirds love to dart about in the sun, but they also need a respite from the heat — a place to cool down.

Design a layered garden with trees, shrubs, flowering vines, perennials and annuals, so hummingbirds will have food, shelter and places to perch and nest.

Hummingbirds need water to drink and to bathe in. They prefer shallow water and love moving water, whether it's from a sprinkler, fountain or waterfall in a backyard pond.

When selecting plants, include some that bloom:

• In spring, so they will have nectar sources to welcome them back.

• In summer, so they will make your garden their home for the season.

• In fall, so hummingbirds can fatten up before starting their winter migration.

Hummingbirds prefer plants with tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers, especially those colored red. Perennial favorites include bee balm, columbine, coral bells, crocosmia, hummingbird mint and salvia.

Some preferred annuals include flowering maple, fuchsia, hibiscus, impatiens, nicotiana, pentas, petunia, salvia and verbena.

Black and blue salvia is a hummingbird magnet in my backyard.

Flowering vines also provide nectar for hummingbirds. Honeysuckle, cardinal climber, cypress vine, morning glory and scarlet runner bean are favorites.

Avoid using pesticides. Hummingbirds also rely on small insects and spiders for protein.

Hummingbirds work so hard to make the long trek back to our backyards. Reward them and delight in their escapades all summer long.

• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and garden center manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. Call (630) 293-1040, ext. 2, or visit planterspalette.com.