Question
Hi Jim
We too have a poplar tree which disperses obsene amounts of white fluff every June/July.  The tree is huge and it is amazing how much of the stuff actually falls - we clean the eavestroughs almost weekly for about 6 week period.
We love the tree but hate the fluff.  Is there anything that can be done to prevent the white fluff?  (Inject it with something, etc.)
Thanks
Brent

Answer
Sounds like a tree called cottonwood, there are several species depending on the location.
 Cottonwoods can be either male or female.  It is the fluffy white seeds produced by the females during early summer that give the tree its name. Cottonwoods are related to poplars and aspens, with which they share the same shaking, shimmering leaves. Because of the fluffy seeds produced by the female tree some cities have banned the planting of cottonwood.
 No I am sorry if you have a female tree there is nothing that can be done to change the sex and the fruiting.
Here is a web link to more information on cottonwoods.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood