Why You Should Tie An Orange Ribbon Around The Trees In Your Yard

Have you ever seen colored ribbons wrapped around the trees in someone's yard? These could be in any color and can have a variety of different meanings. Some ribbons are used to bring awareness, like how yellow ribbons tied to trees can show support for the military. Other reasons may include to indicate which trees need to be cut down in a yard or to mark the boundary of a property. However, if you've ever seen orange ribbons on people's trees, these may have another purpose: to attract hummingbirds to a garden. If you want to see more hummingbirds in your own yard, adding orange (or red) ribbons to your trees could be an easy way to lure them in.

Drawing these tiny feathered friends to your yard may come with more benefits than you realize. Avid bird watchers will love following hummers as they flit from flower to feeder. Besides that, hummingbirds will also benefit your garden through pollination. They carry pollen from one flower to the next as they drink the sweet nectar. Furthermore, they consume small pests like mosquitoes, gnats, and mites, effectively reducing the amount of insects that can hurt your plants while simultaneously making your yard a more enjoyable environment for you. Here's more on why hummingbirds are drawn to orange ribbons, how to add them to your yard, and tips on keeping the hummers that visit both happy and safe.

Hummingbirds are attracted to bright colors like red and orange because, in nature, these flowers tend to have the most nectar. When searching for food, they will draw closer to things with these vibrant tones — and they are very good at spotting these colors. In fact, hummingbirds can even see colors that humans cannot. While we have three types of cones in our eyes that are color-sensitive, hummingbirds have four. The fourth cone picks up ultraviolet light, which is thought to allow these tiny birds to see colors that no one else can, and to make the colors we can see brighter.

Since this can enable them to view colors more vibrantly, it helps them gravitate toward the brightest-colored flowers. In this way, their keen eyes help them thrive, as they are what allows them to find good food sources. When you place orange or red ribbons on your trees, you're effectively drawing hummingbirds into your space, as they connect the color red or similar tones like orange with higher levels of nectar. Ensure the ribbons you choose are vibrant so that hummingbirds can see them from some distance while flying by during their migration.

When purchasing ribbons to use to attract hummingbirds to your yard, you'll want to ensure they are durable enough to withstand the elements. While ribbons sold at craft stores can work, a better option could be orange surveyor's tape, as it's made to be outside. Cut off a section that's about 12 inches long depending on your tree's girth, then simply tie the ribbon around the trunk.

Furthermore, you don't have to only wrap the ribbons around your trees. Instead, also attach them to your porch, planters, and even your fence. Just make sure to tie them in key areas where hummingbirds have an incentive to visit. For instance, if you place a feeder on a pole, attach ribbons to that pole or tie red ribbons around the feeder itself to make the food source more visible.

It's also crucial to know the best times of year to tie orange ribbons around your trees to attract hummingbirds. Depending on where you live, these birds may migrate down south for the winter in August or September and then return in February or later in the spring. Check a migration map, such as the one provided by Perky-Pet, to see when these birds will be in your area for the year. Then, ensure that your ribbons are hung before they're set to arrive in the spring. At the end of the season, you can remove them until next year.

Of course, once you draw them in, you should make the hummers' visit worthwhile and perhaps even extend their stay by offering them some sources of food. Carefully plan out where you place ribbons near your hummingbird feeders so they won't have to go far to find the food. Fill your feeders with sugar water and keep the contents fresh. You can also bulk up your flower power by placing bright orange ribbons near flowers. One popular houseplant that attracts hummingbirds to your yard is the begonia, so try adding this to your space. There are plenty of other flowers that hummingbirds absolutely love as well that you could include in your garden. A birdbath will also help supply hummingbirds with necessary water before they go on their way — and encourage them to come back again.

To keep hummingbirds safe once they frequent your yard, you need to protect them from predators. One way to do this is by placing feeders at least 5 feet high, as this will help keep these pint-sized birds safe from family pets like cats. It also helps to place feeders in areas where they aren't immediately near branches where a cat could easily climb, yet close enough to nearby trees and foliage so hummingbirds can quickly fly for cover when they sense a nearby predator like a hawk.