Lowes throws plants like that away also. Huge waste, when I worked there we threw away tons of spring bulbs. Even I as a worker couldn't take them home. What happens is that when they don't sell Lowes goes back to the supplier and Lowes gets credit for them. Therefore they now belong to the supplier again. The supplier tells them to destroy the material. At that point they really can't give them away or sell them. Plants like the annuals/perennials belong to Lowes and those they will sell even at .10 if they can.
I am sure that HD has a similar arrangement,
@Gita would know for sure how they work.
