Question
Our house in South Central Indiana is surrounded by mature Tulip Poplar trees many hanging above the back deck. For the first time in 12 years, the trees are dropping an excessive amount of sticky dew sometimes actually creating puddles on the deck like a rainfall.

Two possible contributing factors: Spring arrived this year about a month early and there's been no rain in probably five weeks.

We would like to hear your comments on this situation.

Answer
Sounds like an insect called an aphid. These insects suck the plant juices and secrete a substance called honeydew, which is high in sugar content ans sticky. usuall a sooty mold will grow on the honeydew turning the foliage and /or branches black.

To stop the honeydew from dripping you will Need to control the insects sucking the juices. Since the tres are large it will be difficult to spray the foliage so I would use an insecticied called Bayer advanced tree and shrub insect control. This is applied to the soil around the tree and the root will pick it up and carry it to the foliage the twigs and when the insects feed they are killed.  With large trees it will take a few weeks for the insecticide to reach the top foliage. this will give control for the entire season. Here is a web link to this product. http://www.bayeradvanced.com/tree-shrub-care/products/12-month-tree-shrub-insect