After years of gardening, there’s one thing I’ve pretty much stopped buying at Home Depot: plants.

It’s not because every plant there is unhealthy or won’t survive. I’ve bought plenty of plants from Home Depot over the years, and many people have great luck with them. But after dealing with stressed plants, pest problems and a few purchases that simply didn’t work out, I’ve become much more selective about where I buy my plants.

These days, I’d rather spend a little more at a local nursery where I can find plants better suited to my garden and get advice when I need it. For me, the extra cost has been worth it.

The selection isn’t always right for my garden

Home Depot carries plenty of plants, but a large selection doesn’t necessarily mean they’re all a good fit for the local climate or a particular garden. I’ve found that local nurseries tend to have more native plants, regionally appropriate varieties and options I don’t see nearly as often at big-box stores.

That’s especially important when I’m buying something I hope will come back year after year. I’d rather choose a plant that’s well suited to my growing conditions than buy something simply because it happens to be available.

The plants aren’t always kept in the right conditions

I’ve seen shade-loving plants sitting in intense sun and plants that need plenty of light tucked into darker areas. I’ve also come across plants that were completely dried out while others were sitting in soaking-wet soil.

A plant can still look good enough to buy while already being stressed. Sometimes the problems don’t become obvious until a few days after bringing it home.

I’m especially cautious about pests

This is probably my biggest concern, particularly with houseplants. Spider mites, thrips, mealybugs and fungus gnats aren’t exactly the kind of free bonus I’m looking for with a new plant.

Plants sitting close together can make it easier for pests to move from one to another, and some problems aren’t obvious during a quick inspection. Bringing home one infested plant can suddenly put all the other plants in the house at risk.

The soil can tell you a lot

I’ve picked up plants and immediately noticed soil that’s either completely saturated or extremely dry. Some plants also come in dense growing mixes that I don’t necessarily want them sitting in long term.

That can mean bringing home a plant and immediately needing to repot it with fresh soil. Once I’m buying soil and spending time helping a stressed plant recover, that inexpensive plant doesn’t feel like quite the bargain anymore.

The labels aren’t always enough

When I’m buying a plant I’m unfamiliar with, I want to know more than whether it needs “sun” or “shade.” The exact variety can matter, along with mature size, watering needs and whether it will actually work where I’m planning to grow it.

I’ve encountered missing labels and generic care information that doesn’t tell me nearly enough. At a nursery, I can usually ask questions before committing to a plant I’ll be caring for, potentially for years.

I’d rather have someone I can ask

Big-box garden centers certainly have knowledgeable employees, but plant expertise isn’t necessarily what every employee was hired to provide. When I have a specific gardening question, I’d rather talk with someone who works with plants every day.

That’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve come to appreciate local nurseries. Being able to explain where I’m planting something and get advice about what might work there can save me from making an expensive mistake.

A cheap plant isn’t always the cheapest option

Price used to be one of the biggest reasons I’d toss a plant into my cart. But I’ve learned that saving a few dollars upfront doesn’t matter much if the plant struggles, needs to be repotted immediately or eventually has to be replaced.

I’ll gladly pay a little more for a healthier plant that I’m more confident about bringing home. For something I’m hoping to enjoy for years, that’s usually the better value for me.

I’ll still be shopping at Home Depot

This isn’t me swearing off Home Depot. I’ll still be there buying soil, tools, pots, lumber and probably several things that weren’t on my original shopping list.

Plants are simply the exception I’ve made after years of gardening and a few purchases I wish I’d left behind. These days, when I want a new plant, the local nursery is usually my first stop.