Alys started gardening in her early teens and after leaving school trained at the Royal Horticultural Society, the New York Botanical Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. She started working at BBC Gardeners' World as a horticultural researcher, and soon progressed to the role of of Head Gardener.

Alys has published work in The Guardian, The Garden, Gardeners' World Magazine, Gardens Illustrated and Horticulture Week. She writes a monthly blog for Gardeners' World and her first book called The Thrifty Gardener: How to Create a Stylish Garden for Next to Nothing, was published in 2008 by Kyle Cathie.

Alys appeared at the Gardeners' World Live show this summer and is currently filming the new series of Gardeners' World, now based in Birmingham, in addition to a new BBC TV series and book, The Edible Garden about vegetable and flower gardening.