
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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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
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Every Garden Needs One Plant That Thrives on Neglect – These Are the 6 Best Ones to ChooseThere are plants that ask for attention… and then there are the ones that quietly get on with it. These are the latter.
By Kayleigh Dray
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This Vibrant Perennial Should Be in Every Shade Garden – It Adds Color and Texture to the Darkest SpotsIf your garden sits on the darker side of the fence, look this way...
By Kayleigh Dray
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This Common Bird Feeder Mistake Will Bring Rats to Your Yard – But There’s a Quick Way to Fix ItRats are more active than ever this time of year – but that doesn’t mean your backyard birds have to miss out. Here’s how to keep rodents away from your feeder.
By Kayleigh Dray
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7 Foolproof Plants for May – Grow Them Now and Transform a Hot Mess Garden into Something StunningIf your garden isn’t going to plan, May is your chance to reset...
By Kayleigh Dray
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This Absolute Unicorn Plant Promises Big Blooms, Fabulous Scent, and Serious Low-Maintenance BeautyA rare combination of bold blooms, rich fragrance, and repeat flowering, all in one easy-care shrub? Sign us up...
By Kayleigh Dray
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My Neighbors Love My Flowering Tree So Much They've All Planted One, TooIt marks the seasons better than anything else I’ve planted...
By Kayleigh Dray
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This One Evergreen Plant Will Hide Ugly Garden Spots – and Make Your Garden Smell IncredibleWhat’s better than a problem-solving plant? One that looks as good as it smells...
By Kayleigh Dray
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Feeling Lazy? These 9 Beautiful Plants Will Give You the Most Reward for the Least EffortIf you want a garden that looks amazing without constant upkeep, try these easy-breezy plants (they practically take care of themselves)...
By Kayleigh Dray
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Forget White Picket Fences; Paint Your Fence This Color to Add Serious Value in 2026Designers are embracing invisible boundaries right now, and this one shade is set to make your garden feel bigger, greener, and far more expensive...
By Kayleigh Dray
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Meet Your Birth Month Garden Guardian – And The Magical Meaning Behind All 12 Folklore CreaturesFrom fairies to woodland spirits, everyone has a garden guardian worth daydreaming about. And, yes, yours is linked to your birth month...
By Kayleigh Dray
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Say Hello to Your Birth Month Orchid – and Its Surprisingly Personal MeaningThese stunning indoor orchids aren’t just beautiful; they each carry a symbolic meaning tied to your birth month...
By Kayleigh Dray
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Fast vegetables for people who can’t wait – plant these 7 crops in April for a speedy summer harvestThey say patience is a virtue, but not for these fast-growing crops!
By Kayleigh Dray
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Meet Your Birth Month Bug – and the Special Meaning Behind All 12From fireflies to ladybugs, every month has a bug (and a personality) waiting in the wings...
By Kayleigh Dray
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I Loved These Blue Spring Flowers – Until I Realized They’re Taking Over My GardenThese invasive flowers are popping up in gardens everywhere, and they’re harder to control than you might think...
By Kayleigh Dray
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What the First Bird You See Each Morning Says About Your Day AheadWhether it’s a flash of red from a cardinal or the soft call of a mourning dove, the first bird you spot each morning set the tone of the day ahead...
By Kayleigh Dray
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My Front Yard Stays Private All Year Round Thanks To This One Plant – It Shields My Home From Nosy Neighbors PerfectlyThis glossy evergreen is my absolute favorite when it comes to privacy plants.
By Kayleigh Dray
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Meet Your Birth Month Animal – and the Meaning Behind All 12 Backyard CrittersEver wondered which backyard creature you’re most like? From foxes to squirrels, your birth month animal might reveal more about you than you think...
By Kayleigh Dray

