We love most everything about summertime, but not those annoying mosquitos. Don't let them ruin your time spent outdoors! Here are a few plants you can add to containers or flower beds to help keep those pesky bugs at bay.

Mint - Many people like to flavor their iced water or tea with mint, but this plant also contains aromatic properties that mosquitoes dislike. We suggest planting mint in a container, as it is invasive and will spread like wildfire if planted in a flower bed.

Marigolds - Most people who grow vegetables tend to plant marigolds amongst the veggies, and for good reason. These magical flowers help banish many types of insects including mosquitoes. In the picture above, you can see that we've planted marigolds in our herb planters. They help deter pests and bring a pop of color to the herb gardens. Win win!

Lantana - This annual flower is another great choice, since mosquitoes dislike bright and vibrant colors. The scent of the flowers helps to ward off the little buggers. Lantana is extremely heat and drought tolerant and is an excellent filler/spiller in containers.

Lemon balm - This perennial has a great lemon scent that wards off mosquitoes effectively. Lemon balm grows quickly in moist and well-drained soil and likes to be watered at least once a day. Rub the leaves with your fingers - this will be your new favorite if you love the smell of lemon! Make sure to plant this in a container because this is a fast spreader.

Other plants that ward off mosquitos are citronella, scented leaf geranium, lavender, rosemary and basil. Hopefully using a few of these plants in your yard will do the trick in keeping mosquitos at bay.

In addition to plants, we have discovered a few mosquito repellent products that work well to keep your backyards bite free.