
Kayleigh Dray
Kayleigh is an enthusiastic (sometimes too enthusiastic!) gardener and has worked in media for over a decade. She previously served as digital editor at Stylist magazine, and has written extensively for Ideal Home, Woman & Home, Homes & Gardens, and a handful of other titles. Now, though, she is leaning into her passion for plants at Gardening Know How.
In her spare time, Kayleigh loves to spend as much time as possible outdoors – not least of all because it helps her tiny tearaway daughters burn off some much-needed energy – so she can usually be found wandering around one of England's National Trust site, traipsing around the lakes near her village, or making mud pies and homemade potions in the garden.
Married to an RHS-trained gardener with a penchant for rescuing unwanted plants, their 'work in progress' backyard has become something of a plant hospital over time: there's usually a sorry-looking bush or shrub being carefully nursed back to good health somewhere (which is why they're extra proud of the stunning laurel hedge at the front of their home – it was nothing but a sickly yellow sprig until they got their hands on it).
Keen to do her bit for local wildlife, Kayleigh makes a point of filling her borders with pollinator-friendly blooms, native fruiting plants, and wildflowers. Her daughters might be tots still, but she's encouraged them to tend to their own herb garden, too – and there is always a fun family project on the go, whether it's crafting a homemade bee water station, mini pond, hedgehog house, bird feeder, seed bomb, or stumpery.
In addition to her gardening know-how, Kayleigh has also written extensively about pop culture and the arts, and she has a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing.
Latest articles by Kayleigh Dray
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Meet Your Birth Month Woodland Animal – and the Meaning Behind 12 Forest-Dwelling CrittersFrom clever coyotes to powerful bears, your birth month woodland animal might reveal more about you than you think...
By Kayleigh Dray
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The 7 Best ‘Set and Forget’ Plants for Your Vacation Style – So Your Garden Looks Good All HolidayFrom weekend breakers to long-haul travelers, these low-maintenance bloomers keep thriving even when you’re not around to fuss over them...
By Kayleigh Dray
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5 Stunning Flowering Bonsai Trees That Even Beginners Can GrowThese beautiful blooming bonsai prove you don’t need years of experience to grow something truly impressive
By Kayleigh Dray
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7 Pretty Self-Seeding Flowers That Will Quietly Fill Gaps And Bare Patches All By ThemselvesThese low-fuss bloomers gently spread, naturalise, and return year after year – often in exactly the spots your garden needs them most
By Kayleigh Dray
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These 7 Perennials Flower All Summer Long Without Constant Deadheading – And Look So Pretty Doing ItIf you want long-lasting color without the constant upkeep, these easygoing perennials keep blooming with surprisingly little effort
By Kayleigh Dray
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These 8 Plants Are Too Expensive for Me, So I Found Gorgeous, Budget-Friendly DupesEvery bit as stunning, and sometimes more impactful, these plant dupes tick every box going... just without the eye-watering price tag.
By Kayleigh Dray
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Meet Your Birth Month Wildflower – and the Meaning Behind All 12 Beautiful BloomsFrom woodland trilliums to vibrant butterfly milkweed, your birth month wildflower might reveal more about you than you think...
By Kayleigh Dray
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This Fragrant Perennial Is Quietly Replacing Lavender – It’s Hardier, Blooms Longer, and Pollinators Love ItI grow both side by side in containers at home, but one consistently flowers longer, attracts more bees, and steals the show every summer.
By Kayleigh Dray
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7 Front Yard Plants That Say More About You Than You Think – Here’s What You Need To KnowYes, your front yard tells your neighbors a lot more about you than you might realize (and it’s all in what you plant).
By Kayleigh Dray
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6 Tiny Fast-Growing Perennial Flowers That Cover Bare Soil And Fill Garden Gaps Year After YearBare patches don’t stand a chance against these pretty blooms!
By Kayleigh Dray
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Your Old Colander Might Be The Best Hanging Basket You Never Thought To UseThis surprisingly clever garden hack actually works (and it looks far prettier than you’d expect).
By Kayleigh Dray
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I Planted This Invasive Perennial In Containers And I've Never Looked Back – It's Pretty And Easy To GrowA lot of gardeners hate this invasive perennial, but it’s perfect in pots!
By Kayleigh Dray
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IKEA’s Limited Edition Outdoor Light Is The Coolest I’ve Seen Yet – It Looks Like It’s From a Boutique Garden StoreThe rechargeable IKEA SOLVINDEN globe light might be one of the easiest ways to transform a patio, balcony, or backyard this summer.
By Kayleigh Dray
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Every Container Garden Needs a Plant That Thrives on Neglect – Here Are 6 of the BestIf you want containers that still look lush through heatwaves, missed watering days, and busy weeks, these resilient plants are about as forgiving as it gets.
By Kayleigh Dray
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Did You Know You Have a Birth Month Hydrangea? Here's All 12 and Their Special MeaningsHydrangea lovers, rejoice! These extra-special birth month hydrangeas are said to reflect our personalities in the most beautiful way...
By Kayleigh Dray
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These 11 Purple Flowers Will Bloom All Summer With Almost No Effort – And Make Your Garden Look Like a Designer Planted ItPollinators will love these long-blooming purple flowers, too!
By Kayleigh Dray
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Meet Your Zodiac Houseplant – and What It Secretly Says About YouEver wondered which houseplant matches your personality? From unkillable snake plants to dramatic fiddle leaf figs, your zodiac houseplant might reveal more about you than you think…
By Kayleigh Dray
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My Husband Is a Professional Gardener – and He’d Never Let Me Buy These 6 Popular PlantsFrom slug magnets to thuggish vines, these are the plants my professional gardener husband simply will not tolerate in our yard – no matter how much I argue.
By Kayleigh Dray

