It never fails.

Just as soon as the weather warms up and you’re ready to spend more time outdoors…here come the mosquitoes!

You’re probably already calculating how much extra money you’re going to have to spend in order to keep the annoying little blood-suckers at bay.

If you haven’t already considered it, natural mosquito repellents may be the way to go.

Would you believe some natural insect repellents are more effective than the bug sprays you buy in stores?

Yes, these five natural remedies are said to be the best at sending mosquitoes as far away from you as possible…and keeping yourself bite free!

Ageratum

Move over, Citronella! This is one underrated, but very powerful mosquito repelling plant. Some savvy gardeners have taken to planting ageratum in their yards. The plant secretes coumarin, a substance found in in many store-bought mosquito repellents.

Warning: this is NOT something you want to put on your skin (it’s actually not recommended). Instead, it’s best to plant ageratum in a way that creates a sort of invisible protective barrier in your yard. A barrier mosquitoes will be reluctant to cross.

Organic Soy Oil

Apparently repellents that feature organic soy oil are just as effective at repelling your average mosquito as chemical-laden store-bought repellents.

Imagine, saving yourself the hell of mosquito bites while also avoiding coating yourself in DEET-based substances.

The essential oil in catnip is effective at repelling mosquitoes. http://t.co/7OyWnDOLzM pic.twitter.com/2VTI9fmtl8

— farmersmarkets (@farmersmarkets) July 29, 2013

Catnip

Cats love it, mosquitoes HATE it. The bugs hate the stuff so much that an Iowa State University study found it to be ten times more effective than DEET-based repellents at keeping mosquitoes away.

Lotus

The Nelumbo nucifera or lotus is a plant that takes no prisoners when it comes to mosquitoes. A study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine found that lotuses not only repel mosquitoes, the plant is also capable of killing their larvae.

Lotus Flower-Nelumbo nucifera beautiful #flowers #garden love pic.twitter.com/goOVIULXBk

— Beautiful Flowers (@ImanNaim3) June 22, 2014

Mosquitos love water and the lotus is a water-based plant. If you have a pond on your property, fill it with lotuses. You should see a reduction in mosquitoes hanging around the area.

Black Pepper

A number of bugs simply can’t stand the smell of black pepper, and mosquitos are no exception. An essential oil made from black pepper applied topically is said to be great for keeping yourself bug-free.

Do you have any natural remedies or homemade concoctions to help fight mosquitoes? Share below!

Image via Wikimedia Commons