
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 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
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This $20 Walmart Rain Chain Has Rave Reviews – And It’s a Genius Way to Upgrade Your DownspoutIt’s affordable, easy to install, and turns rainwater into a free, plant-friendly resource for your garden. What's not to love?
By Kayleigh Dray
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Miss This April Gardening Job and Your Hydrangeas Won’t Bloom ProperlyThis timing tip only applies to panicle hydrangeas – but it’s crucial if you want flowers this summer
By Kayleigh Dray
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Why This April Date Is the Goldilocks Zone for Starting Tomato Seeds – and It's Coming Up SoonNot too early, not too late? This mid-April moment is the sweet spot for starting tomato seeds.
By Kayleigh Dray
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8 Fastest Growing Perennials to Fill Gaps and Bare Patches in Your Garden – It's the Easiest Way to Add ColorFill bare patches fast, and help pollinators thrive! These native plants will turn empty soil into a buzzing, beautiful garden in no time...
By Kayleigh Dray
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Zach Galifianakis reveals the 5 best vegetables to grow for beginners – but there’s a catchEarnest, funny, and exclusive. Here, Zach Galifianakis shares his favorite edimentals to grow as a beginner.
By Kayleigh Dray
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Get Dressed Up for Planting Season! These Stylish Gardening Clothes Make Working Outside a BreezeFrom clogs to sun hats, these gardening clothes let you work in comfort, style, and confidence all season long.
By Kayleigh Dray
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Artemis II Returns with 5 Native Tree Seeds Aboard – Here’s Why Gardeners Should CareThese native tree seeds have been to the Moon and back, but their biggest impact could be in your own backyard.
By Kayleigh Dray
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5 Plants You’ll Regret Pruning in April – Plus 1 That Needs Cutting Back, ProntoStop before you snip! Learn which beloved perennials and shrubs should never be pruned in April – and which one actually benefits from a spring trim.
By Kayleigh Dray
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The Best Kids Gardening Supplies for Eager Little GrowersIf you have a budding gardener or two in the family, look this way...
By Kayleigh Dray
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Plant Once, Enjoy For Years – These Perennials Absolutely Love an April StartThese perennials will reward a spring planting with years of color and beauty...
By Kayleigh Dray
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Did You Know You Have a Birth Month Weed? Here’s the Surprising Trait It Reveals About YouFrom dandelions to clover, these common weeds are tougher than they look – and your birth month match might just reveal why you are too.
By Kayleigh Dray
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These 9 Flowering Plants Look Like Divas – But They’re Actually Super Low-MaintenanceIf you want a garden that looks impressive without demanding constant attention, look this way...
By Kayleigh Dray
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This Low-Maintenance Potted Plant Delivers Bold Blooms for Months – No Deadheading RequiredHeat tolerant, colorful, and easy as anything to grow? All hail this new container garden star!
By Kayleigh Dray
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13 Flower Seeds to Sow in April for Nonstop Color All Summer LongIf you plant these flower seeds in April, you can look forward to a backyard that blooms with gusto. There’s no better time to get started, quite frankly!
By Kayleigh Dray
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Say Hello To Your Birth Month Flower – And The Beautiful Meanings Behind All 12Every single one of us has a flower tied to our birth month… and it speaks volumes about our personalities
By Kayleigh Dray
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Hacker or Manicurist? Your Pruning Style Says A Lot About You – And The Plants You Should GrowDid you know the way you prune reveals more about you than you think? Here’s what it says about your personality – and the plants you should be growing.
By Kayleigh Dray

