Thanks for your question.

Almost everything in nature runs in various types of circles. Cottonwoods are no exception. For female cottonwoods, this means that depending upon environmental circumstances and their internal botanical clocks, some years they will show high seed production (much cotton) and in other years there will be low seed production (less). There is nothing that one can do about this; it is just the way cottonwoods have evolved over thousands of years. Those years in which there is high seed production is called a mast year. Usually a mast year is preceded by one or two seasons having hot and dry conditions. A bright spot is that rarely will there be two mast years in a row. In other words, I expect cottonwoods in your area to show a reduced amount of cotton in 2025. See the following for further information on these and related points:

https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/06/07/whats-up-with-all-the-white-fluff-why-cottonwood-trees-are-seeding-like-crazy-this-year/ - :~:text=It's a phenomenon called mast,conditions allow it, LaMontagne said.

https://denverite.com/2024/06/25/denver-cottonwood-seeds/

https://blog.davey.com/how-long-do-white-fluffy-seeds-last-on-cottonwood-trees/ - :~:text=But a growth regulator will,want to swap trees entirely.

https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/trees-and-shrubs/all-about-cottonwood-trees

Bear with things for just a bit longer. The “cotton storm” should be done by the end of July.

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