South County Teaching and Demo Garden

COVID-19 update: In-person events have been canceled, but we are offering a variety of online talks. Our demonstration gardens are currently closed to the public.

Our office is closed but we are working remotely to answer gardening questions. The best way to contact us is to submit a question. We also check voice messages but response times are generally slower.

This one-third acre garden demonstrates a wide variety of gardening practices, including year-round vegetables, fruit trees, drought-tolerant ornamentals, and native plants, as well as container gardening in wine barrels and handicap accessible gardening.

Address: St. Louise Hospital, 9400 No Name Uno, Gilroy, CA 95020 (View map)

Directions: From the main entrance to the hospital, turn left and follow around the complex to the back corner. The garden is near the northeast corner of the building.

Visiting hours: The garden is open to the public anytime. Visitors to the garden must wear cloth face coverings and observe social distancing. Please do not come to the garden if you are not feeling well.

South County Teaching and Demonstration Garden class

The South County Teaching & Demonstration Garden (SCTDG) is the southern-most UC Master Gardener project in Santa Clara County. It primarily serves the residents of southern San Jose, Morgan Hill, San Martin, and Gilroy. Located on the campus of St. Louise Hospital in Gilroy, it is approximately one-third of an acre.

The garden consists of ten raised beds, a number of growing mounds, including one for drought-tolerant ornamentals, a native plant garden area, a handicap gardening area, several wine barrels for container gardening, a 28-tree fruit orchard and an additional espalier area, and composting capability, both standard and worm composting.

Additionally, we conduct limited soil and plant trials to determine what grows best in South County, and how best to grow it. We continue to monitor for birds and insects throughout the project. As a teaching and demonstration garden we take our obligation to help educate the public very personally.