Hummingbirds are a beautiful sight, but some shop products may keep them away without you realizing it. If you are hoping to attract these birds, avoid the following products as they will repel hummingbirds and leave your garden full of life!
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Citronella candles are designed to repel mosquitoes, but they will also deter hummingbirds from visiting your garden. Hummingbirds are small but sensitive to smell, so the pervasive scents from citronella candles can drive them away. If you wish to attract hummingbirds to your garden, remove any citronella candles from the vicinity.
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Chemical Insecticides
Chemical methods of pest control (especially those with strong odors) can be hummingbird deterrents. While poisons do eliminate most of the unwanted pests, they also kill the pests that hummingbirds depend on to survive. Natural pest control methods can be used to protect a garden that attracts hummingbirds.
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Wind Chimes
Wind chimes add a decorative musical element to your garden, but alas, the wind chimes' sounds created by wind chimes can scare away hummingbirds. While wind chimes may be entertaining for humans, the constant noise created by wind chimes are likely annoying to the sensitive ears of hummingbirds. If you want to attract hummingbirds to your garden, you are better off selecting other, quieter, garden elements.
Artificial Sweeteners
Although some individuals might assume that sugar substitutes are fine to use in hummingbird feeders, these actually can be harmful to hummingbirds and do not offer the calories and nutrients that hummingbirds need. Always use plain white sugar to create hummingbird nectar.
Garden Sprinklers
Bird sprinklers can scare hummingbirds away because of the noise and water they put out. To avoid scaring them away, try to use bird sprinklers less often or at times when the hummingbirds are not present.
Strong Fragrance Flowers
Although flowers that produce sweet and strong fragrances may appeal to us, us, most hummingbirds in such cases are likely to avoid the so called “hummingbird flowers''. Bright colored, unscented flowers. Instead, choose flowers known to attract hummingbirds, like red salvia or bee balm.
Outdoor Bug Zappers
Bug zappers eliminate pests and insects; however, the bright UV light lure charm away feeding hummingbirds. Additionally, the constant buzzing and zapping is distressful to fragile creatures. If you want to keep your garden safe for hummingbirds, try other options to control pests.
