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
-
My Husband Is a Professional Gardener, and These Are the 3 Tools He Never Starts a Job WithoutHe’s tried countless gardening tools over the years, but these three are the ones he always keeps close at hand.
By Kayleigh Dray
-
Can Your Bird Feeder Really Tell You if a Storm Is Coming? Here's the TruthI have always heard that birds can predict the weather, so I decided to do some digging...
By Kayleigh Dray
-
What Japanese Maple Trees Need in August If You Want Brilliant Fall ColorYour Japanese Maple's fall display starts long before the leaves begin to change – and these three August tasks can make all the difference.
By Kayleigh Dray
-
3 Beautiful Backyard Birds That Eat Wasps – And How to Attract Them to Your YardReddit gardeners are making fake wasp nests from brown paper bags. I'd rather enlist the real thing: three beautiful birds that happily snack on wasps.
By Kayleigh Dray
-
This Striking Prairie Native Is Quietly Replacing Mediterranean Plants – It's Hardier and Wildlife-FriendlyEveryone tells us to look to the Mediterranean for drought-tolerant plants, but lavender and salvia have got nothing on this native hero...
By Kayleigh Dray
-
Goldie Hawn’s One-Plant Rule Makes Any Patio Look More Expensive – Even on a BudgetWant to give your patio a quiet luxury feel? Try Goldie Hawn's clever one-plant rule.
By Kayleigh Dray
-
Forget Patchy Grass! This Pretty Ground Cover Could Transform Your Shady Garden With Very Little EffortA fast-spreading ground cover, it's perfect for shady gardens where grass struggles (and pollinators love it!).
By Kayleigh Dray
-
Meet Your Birth Month Caterpillar – and the Beautiful Meaning Behind Each OneThey may not have wings just yet, but caterpillars are nature's greatest reminder that growth happens before transformation...
By Kayleigh Dray
-
Why I Let My Passionflower Take Over My Fence (and It's Not Just Because It Looks So Good)Looking for a fast-growing way to hide an ugly fence – or your neighbors? This spectacular flowering vine does it all...
By Kayleigh Dray
-
Move Over Boxwood! Kevin Bacon's Drought-Tolerant Privacy Scheme Is a Smarter Way to Screen Your YardKevin Bacon's layered planting scheme 100% proves you don't need a traditional boxwood hedge to create privacy...
By Kayleigh Dray
-
I've Wasted Precious Time and Money on My Veggie Patch – This All-in-One Raised Bed Could Have Done It for MePeople always say don’t work hard, work smart. This genius all-in-one raised bed is the perfect example!
By Kayleigh Dray
-
Kourtney Kardashian Just Gave Us The Ultimate Poolside Planting Inspiration – And It's So Easy To RecreateIf you want to recreate the dreamy poolside scene from Kourtney's latest Instagram post, you can (no celebrity budget required!).
By Kayleigh Dray
-
Meet The Perennial Quietly Replacing Delphiniums – Its Purple Flower Spikes Thrive In Dry SoilThe delphinium lookalike is beloved by pollinators, too.
By Kayleigh Dray
-
Matthew McConaughey's Rope Porch Swing Is Stunning, And It's So Easy To DIYThere are plenty of things I’d happily borrow from Matthew McConaughey’s home – and now I can add his outdoor swing setup to the list.
By Kayleigh Dray
-
I Used to Hate Dandelions – Until I Discovered the Pretty Pink Version Designers LoveDandelions have had a bad rep for a very long time... but this pretty pink version is officially stealing hearts everywhere.
By Kayleigh Dray
-
Say Hello To Your Birth Month Biennial – And The Meaning Behind Each OneThese beautiful biennial flowers are worth sowing now for a spectacular display next year – and each one has a personality to match your birth month.
By Kayleigh Dray
-
I Grow This Pretty Flower For My Borders – But It's Also My Secret To Brighter Blond HairI hardly reach for purple shampoo anymore because it leaves my blond hair incredibly shiny (and it's so easy to make)...
By Kayleigh Dray
-
This Colorful Perennial Is Quietly Replacing Mums – It Blooms For Weeks Into Fall and Pollinators Love ItWant a garden that blooms in fall and offers plenty of colorful pollinator-friendly flowers? Skip the mums and plant this perennial instead...
By Kayleigh Dray

