Even though this has been a brutal winter for much of the country, it’s time to make a plan of attack for the pests. Of course, this goes hand in hand with the garden planning and power (seed) shopping. Besides the tempting colorful photos of fruits and vegetables, who can resist the promising pest control gadgets in the catalogues?

I want to try a few to see how they work.

Pest Control: Cat Scat Mats

I noticed a cat deterrent device that looks like a welcome mat. These are big boards spiked with large nails that back country dwellers set out in front of their cabin doors to deter grizzlies. The Cat Scat Mats are made of plastic so they wont injure the feline, but they certainly look gnarly.

Cluster Buster Window Fly Trap

The one tool that caught my eye was a trap for flies that cluster in the windows. That’s a maddening problem for us, particularly early in the season. And while I can usually let the boys loose on them with fly swatters, I am going to purchase one to give it a whirl.

The Cluster Buster attaches to the window. Flies go in, but they don’t come out, as they supposedly drown in finely ground eggshells. I’m going to have to inspect it to see exactly how it works. It claims to hold up to 1000 flies, and will be viable for a couple of years. Its very intriguing, and while we dont have to worry about flies for a few more months, Im hoping to keep the numbers down since they drive me absolutely crazy.

Gopher and Mole Repellent Pest Control

Another item I’m terribly curious about is a soybean and garlic gopher and mole repellent that you drop into the hole. The string scent supposedly drives them away, and they claim it will work for up to 10 months. While Im very skeptical because Ive tried a fair number of repellents when it comes to gophers, I’m anxious to give it a try. If it works, its going to save a lot of hardship for many gardeners who have their gardens decimated by these rodents.

Good Old Fashioned Dryer Sheets

A trick I have to test over here (since what works for one person doesnt always work for another) is fastening dryer sheets near tomatoes (or any other plant) that you dont want deer to eat. A friend of mine did this last summer and it worked fabulously. She has a serious deer issue (as in theyll eat the paint right off the truck), but some deer are more desperate than others.

Although most pest problems are months away, were having issues with earwigs in the house. All of a sudden theyre coming out of the proverbial woodwork. Theyre one of my least favorites of all the garden pests, and one of the few benefits (at least I thought) of winter. Our 3 year old dislikes them as much as I do, so hes quick to squish them. It looks like were going to have to warm up on these few before the busy season hits.