The Safe Way To Lure Bees Away From Hummingbird Feeder

Although bees are vital pollinators in your garden, they can wreak havoc on your hummingbird feeders. We love bees and think they deserve a sweet treat just as much as hummingbirds do. However, giving bees unchecked access to your hummingbird feeder isn't the answer. Bees can fall into the sugar water and drown. They can also drive your hummingbirds away. While a few bees hanging out around the feeder probably won't discourage your hummingbirds, too many can send them searching for other food sources.

The best way to keep bees away from your hummingbird feeder is to provide them with real nectar from flowers. Honeybees — like toddlers — prefer the sweetest food source they can find. Planting lots of native flowering plants will provide the bees with a more tantalizing menu than they'll get at your feeder. Make your flowers even more attractive to bees by planting varieties that thrive in full sun and hanging your hummingbird feeders in the shade. Include late-blooming flowers because many bees turn to hummingbird feeders when the summer blooms fade away in the fall.

Planting pollinator-friendly plants is a win-win for hummingbirds, bees, you, and the environment. Flowers that hummingbirds absolutely love are also great for bees. They're both attracted to plants with showy flowers, which will make your garden stand out in the neighborhood. These same plants will attract butterflies and other pollinators, too. Check with your local extension service for specific varieties, but red-flowering currant, Russian sage, sunflowers, blueblossom, and lavender are all good options that you can use to start a pollinator garden.

Include plenty of late-blooming flowers so your bees will be able to eat their fill and survive the winter without having to raid your hummingbird feeders. Some flowers that will keep your bees fat and happy when the temperatures drop include dahlias, zinnias, and border chrysanthemums — the perennials, not the Halloween porch pots. You can find pollinator-friendly guides that list all of the native plants in your area by bloom time to help you plan an almost year-round buffet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.