A great spring garden doesn't begin when the garden center puts pansies out. It starts with what you plant, leave, move and prepare in the fall. But don't panic! You don't have to do everything. Here are five high-impact fall garden tasks you can tackle now to make next spring easier and give your garden a head start.

Monarch butterflies are making their incredible fall migration, and they need nectar to fuel the journey. One of the easiest ways to help? Plant native asters. They're beautiful, perennial and provide valuable late-season food for monarchs, bees and other pollinators. One small plant choice can make your backyard a better place for wildlife.

I planted two little pawpaw trees as part of our edible landscape, waited patiently for fruit...and now we're practically bathing in pawpaws! Here's what I've learned about growing this fascinating native fruit tree, including planting, pollination, ripening, harvesting and why pawpaws can be such a fun addition to a backyard.