Nothing can ruin a lovely evening lounging on your wrought iron patio set faster than being caught up in huge cloud of blood hungry mosquitoes. They buzz, they bite and they're relentless. It's time to fight fire with fire this year! There are simple ways you can rid your backyard of these pests, all you have to do is invest in a few new plants.

Catnip

This may attract a few stray cats to your backyard, but they're certainly better a massive school of vicious mosquitoes. Studies have shown catnip to be a powerful repellent; in fact it's shown to repel mosquitoes 10 times more effectively than the common chemical DEET. Planting a few plants around your patio area will certainly reduce the number of mosquitoes you have to deal with.

Rosemary

Not only is this a popular spice you can add to your kitchen cabinet once the growing season is over with, but it will also annoy the heck out of the mosquitoes. Mosquitoes find the oil produced from this common plant to be repugnant and they will steer clear of your yard.

Marigolds

Marigolds will make a lovely addition to your patio area and the unique odor they give off will not only repulse mosquitoes, but deer as well. These flowers grow best in direct sunlight and they'll look great in your home garden.

Citronella Grass

Citronella is an interesting tropical plant that typically reaches about six feet in height. They can get pretty wild so some regular grooming and trimming will be necessary, but the citral produced from the blades will keep the mosquitoes away. It's even used in many popular repellents.