Beijing zoo attacking spring "fluff"

A high-pressure jet sprays water at willow and poplar trees to avoid the spreading of catkins at Beijing Zoo on April 18, 2017. Zhao Jing, chief of infrastructure and greening with the Beijing Zoo says they've mastered the technique after years of trial and error. [Photo: bjnews.com.cn]

A staff member uses a high-pressure water jet to stop willow and poplar trees from spreading catkins at Beijing Zoo on April 18, 2017. Beijing park officials have treated around 3,300 trees in the city with chemicals to try to prevent the spreading of the fluffy seed pods. A total of 12,048 willow and poplar trees have been planted in municipal parks in Beijing, among which around half produce catkins. [Photo: bjnews.com.cn]

Willow trees at Beijing Zoo are replaced by maple trees on April 18, 2017. According to Beijing Municipal Landscape and Forestry Bureau, Beijing has two million poplar and willow trees, which produce a large number of catkins every spring. [Photo: bjnews.com.cn]