The key to maintaining the perfect lawn is purchasing the right tools. However, unless you’re a lawn care professional, identifying high-quality materials that’ll last and help you get the job done right can be challenging. To make things easier, you might be tempted to resort to the sellers you’re most familiar with when purchasing lawn care tools, like those big box stores.

However, while speaking exclusively to House Digest, GreenPal CEO Bryan Clayton revealed that the lawn care tools sold by those big box retailers are actually lower quality than the tools professionals use. Therefore, it’s best to leave them right on the store shelves and opt for professional-grade essential landscaping tools for your backyard instead.

Clayton shared additional insight regarding why purchasing lawn care tools from the retail giants isn’t a good idea. “Before launching GreenPal, I ran a landscaping business for 15 years and have personally owned thousands of blowers, weed eaters, hedge trimmers — you name it,” the expert explained, detailing the experience that makes him an expert on this subject. “Here’s the truth: if you’re serious about tools, skip the stuff at Lowe’s and Home Depot. Even when it’s the same brand name like STIHL or Echo, the models they sell at big box stores are watered-down versions of what pros use.” Even if you’re not a professional yourself, it’s worth it to invest in the tools they use.

Big box retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot might be all you’re familiar with when it comes to lawn care tool sellers. You may have no idea which stores are better options for purchasing your tools. Thankfully, Clayton revealed where to shop instead. “You want to buy your gear where the pros go — your local STIHL, Echo, or Shindaiwa dealer,” he said while speaking exclusively to House Digest. “They’ll have the base-level commercial-grade equipment that’ll outlast anything off a retail shelf.”

You can purchase all of the tools that will take care of almost any problem in your yard from these stores. However, there are a few details to keep in mind before buying what you need. First, you can purchase lawn care tools from STIHL online or in person. Second, you can view the products Echo sells on its website, but you can only purchase them in person. Use the store locator tool on the website to find your nearest Echo tool store so that you can head on over and buy what you need. As for Shindaiwa, you’ll also need to use the store locator tool on the website to find your nearest in-person location to make your purchase. Lastly, expect to pay more for these high-quality professional tools than you would for products sold by big-box retailers.

Although you’ll have to pay more for professional lawn care tools from sellers like Echo and STIHL, the higher price is well worth it. Clayton explained why while speaking exclusively to House Digest. “I always tell folks—pay the 20% more upfront for a real tool, and it’ll last you 10+ years,” the expert explained. “Go the cheap route, and you’ll be replacing it every other season. Echo or STIHL for blowers, hedge trimmers, and string trimmers—those are solid choices, built to work all day, not just an hour on the weekend.”

If you choose to opt for cheaper tools, expect to need to replace them. You’ll then be spending at least double what you initially thought you would. In the end, you likely won’t save money by selecting lower-cost tools sold by the big box retailers. “Buy it once, use it for life,” Clayton added. “That’s how the pros do it.” Don’t let the higher price of professional lawn care tools scare you back into those big box retail store aisles. You’ll save more money in the long run by purchasing professional-grade equipment. Additionally, the high-quality quality lesser-known lawn tools that experts opt for will likely perform better.