Kayleigh Dray
Kayleigh Dray joined the Ideal Home team in May 2023, and it feels like a role for which she’s been preparing her entire life. After all, her first ever job was working at a busy local garden centre, before she became a property writer for Fine & Country Estate Agents – a job which helped fund her degree in English Literature & Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London.
She kicked off her career in magazines with an eye-opening internship at Cosmopolitan – and was able to impress her editor so much that she kept her on as a news writer. Kayleigh then went on to become part of the digital editorial team at Closer, before a successful seven-year stint at Stylist, where she took command as the site’s editor (and editor-at-large).
Nowadays, she can be found freelancing for a myriad titles about film and TV, but it’s her part time role at Ideal Home that allows her the chance to wax lyrical about her true love: gardening. She has just set to work on giving her own scrubby backyard a woodland-inspired makeover – and there’s been whispers of a vegetable plot, too!
IDEAL HOME TRUTHS
Where’s your happy place?
My happy place is my tiny kitchen, as it’s the first room we put our own stamp on when we moved in. I love the clean white walls and turquoise tiles, and I’m obviously a big fan of the windowsill filled with herb pots and flowering fruit plants, too. There’s still work to be done, but I can’t help but feel proud of how pretty and functional this dinky little room has become.
What’s your home addiction?
I'm obsessed with buying plants – it’s actually been said I have a serious plant problem by more than one person. Whether it’s the time I “accidentally” signed up to a monthly plant subscription service and filled my home with leafy beauties, or the time I woke up frighteningly early to make sure I got my mitts on a coveted climbing hydrangea at our local community plant sale (hey, it’s for charity!), there’s a reason my husband now insists on a One In, One Out policy.
What is your next home project?
This house was bought at auction as a definite fixer-upper, and has been a work in progress ever since. Downstairs is almost sorted (almost), so next it’s the turn of upstairs, and particularly the so-called nursery, as the baby is still camping out in our bedroom…
Latest articles by Kayleigh Dray
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What to prune in April – your ultimate pruning guide to get your garden ready for spring
It's time to start pruning in earnest
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to grow courgettes for a budget-friendly (and incredibly tasty) crop
Fancy growing your own glut of easy and delicious Mediterranean goodies?
By Kayleigh Dray
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What to plant in April – the flowers, fruit and vegetables experts recommend sowing this month
Your April planting guide
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to grow camellias for a vibrant show of pink flowers every spring
Jealous of all those Barbie-pink blooms around town? Here's how to grow your own camellias at home
By Kayleigh Dray
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Can you grow wisteria in a pot? Absolutely, but there are 5 things to consider first
Good news, everyone! You absolutely can grow these fragrant purple climbers in a pot...
By Kayleigh Dray
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When to plant dahlias for fabulous flowers the size of dinner plates
Wondering when to plant dahlias outside? Here's our expert guide...
By Kayleigh Dray
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How long does it take to grow potatoes? Here's what to expect, from planting to harvesting
They're a grow-your-own staple, but how long do potatoes take to grow? Really?
By Kayleigh Dray
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When to repot tomato seedlings if you want to give this garden staple the best possible start
It's a vital part of growing your own process – so when should you repot your tomato seedlings?
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to choose the perfect magnolia tree for your garden, according to experts
From stunning trees to compact bushes, here's how to choose a magnolia tree like a pro
By Kayleigh Dray
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Growing potatoes in grow bags is one of the best crops for small gardens (if you follow our expert tips, of course)
Spuds, spuds, glorious spuds! They're incredibly simple to grow – especially if you use grow bags
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to grow perfect roses – the founder of Grace Rose Farm shares her 5 secrets to beautiful blooms
If you want to learn how to grow roses like a pro (and perfect roses at that), look this way...
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to grow vegetables in a small garden: an expert guide to a bountiful crop in a tiny space
You don't need lots of soil space to grow your own fruit and veg
By Kayleigh Dray
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How long do strawberries take to grow? How to make sure yours are ruby red and Wimbledon-ready
Look this way if you're not sure when to plant strawberries
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to reuse old pillows in the garden – 7 genius ways to repurpose yours
Don't throw your old pillows away! Instead, set them to work in your garden...
By Kayleigh Dray
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5 places to never put a BBQ in a garden, according to experts
Barbecue season is on the horizon, but be sure to steer clear of these spots when it comes to placing your BBQ...
By Kayleigh Dray
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What to plant in March – the flowers, fruit and vegetables experts recommend sowing this month
Your March planting guide
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to start a small vegetable garden – because, no, you don't need lots of space to grow your own fruit and vegetables
A vegetable garden doesn't have to be huge! Here's our expert guide to keeping things small and compact....
By Kayleigh Dray
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Growing tomatoes in grow bags is easy, so long as you follow our expert guide
Short on soil space? It's time to start growing tomatoes in grow bags...
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to grow begonias from tubers – the perfect shade-loving flower for colour all summer long
Begonias are the perfect addition to any garden
By Kayleigh Dray
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IKEA's new outdoor table includes a clever feature to help add more plants to a small garden – and it's a steal at £115
Fancy a cascading plant display in your garden? Then you need this genius outdoor table
By Kayleigh Dray
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When to grow tomatoes if you want a bumper crop of extra tasty toms this summer
It's going to be a deliciously Mediterranean summer, tomato fans...
By Kayleigh Dray
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How to grow lettuce so you never have limp and tasteless supermarket salads again
Why waste money on bags of wilted lettuce when you can grow your own at home?
By Kayleigh Dray
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How often should you water plants in February? How to avoid overwatering (or underwatering) your garden
There is a right way and a wrong way to water your garden, and our experts are here to help you avoid the latter...
By Kayleigh Dray
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The hanging basket GYO trend is the new 'it' way to grow veg in a small space
Think your hanging basket is just for flowers? Think again...
By Kayleigh Dray