GARDEN GURU

Q Why does one side of my peace lily wilt? It has not been moved or overwatered. Neil Traynor

Peace lilies (spathiphyllum) A can flop due to uneven watering to the roots. Stand the plant in a bowl of water until the top is damp, then remove it from the bowl to allow excess to drain.

My espalier apple tree had Q a fluffy white infection earlier this year. I have sprayed it with soapy water, apple vinegar and a insecticide, but to no avail.

M. McCarthy

It sounds like an attack of sap-sucking woolly aphids. Gently scrub the branches with soapy water now, using a stiff brush to dislodge the pests. In spring, spray with an organic pesticide and apply if necessary a few weeks later, but not when the tree is in flower to avoid harming pollinating insects.

I have a variegated weigela Q that never produces many flowers. Over the years I have pruned at different times with no improvement. Should I replace it?

Brian Forrester

It’s probably Weigela florida A ‘Variegata’, which should flower well in a warm, sunny spot. I wouldn’t give up on it. Feed well in early spring with general-purpose fertiliser granules and remove any shoots with pure green leaves. As a rule, it’s best to prune plants in early summer, once flowering is over. Take out about a third of stems, including one or two of the oldest, and trim back any shoots that spoil its shape.