Chris
My real name is Chris, and I’m the guy behind Ope, It’s Mow Time. I’m a proud alum of the University of Minnesota College of Design (Go Gophers!).
I’m married to the strongest, most courageous person I know, and we are proud parents of two amazing boys who keep me on my toes every single day. This channel started shortly after my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, and what began as an outlet has grown into something much bigger than I ever imagined.
At its core, my Ope. It's Mow Time is an educational channel built to help you achieve your dream yard. But you’re not getting a textbook version of lawn care. I bring it to you in a casual, fun, and entertaining way that leans into my kid-at-heart, type B personality, and ADHD-brain. It’s real, it’s a little chaotic at times, but it’s designed to actually stick and help you take action.
The goal of this channel is simple give back as much as possible. Through this platform, we’ve built an incredible community that rallies around a purpose bigger than just grass. My cause is VraniCURE, an organization dedicated to funding metastatic breast cancer research, and together we’ve raised over $100,000 to support that mission.
When I’m not on the lawn, I’m usually with my kids at their school or sports, coaching soccer, or volunteering for just about anything I can say yes to. I’m also an avid golfer, and if I’m off the grass, you can find me on a basketball court, at a hockey game, up north, listening to live music, or posted up at one of our favorite dive bars.
I still can’t believe what this community has become, but I’m grateful for every single one of you who’s along for the ride!
Channel
Ope It's Mow Time
Hometown
Twin Cities, MN
Fun Fact
Fun Fact
Fun Fact
Short-Form Videos
Fast, entertaining clips that deliver real takeaways — perfect for learning one thing at a time without overthinking it.
Long-Form Videos
Step-by-step breakdowns, deeper explanations, and full project walk-throughs; built for homeowners who want to understand the “why,” not just the “what.”
My Products & Recommendations
Exclusive gear and recommended products, tested in real yards and chosen for performance, reliability, and value.
RYOBI 40V HP BRUSHLESS 21" SELF-PROPELLED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MULTI-BLADE MOWER KIT
The RYOBI 40V HP Brushless 21” Self-Propelled All-Wheel Drive Multi-Blade Mower delivers more power than a 196cc gas mower, making it a true gas replacement. The (2) 40V 6Ah batteries give you up to 75 minutes of runtime for easily tackling up to 3/4 acre while utilizing two active battery ports. RYOBI 40V HP Technology utilizes a brushless motor & advanced electronics that automatically react to mowing conditions by increasing the blade speed to eliminate bogging down & powering through the toughest cut. Experience industry’s best 3-in-1 cut performance with the CROSS CUT™ Multi-Blade System, allowing for less clumping when mulching, further & more even dispersal when side discharging, & when bagging the fine clippings fill from back to front to maximize space for less bag changes. The ALL-WHEEL DRIVE system gives you ultimate maneuverability & control in any terrain by providing full power to all four wheels, while SMART TREK™ self-propelled technology allows you to effortlessly adapt the mower's speed to your pace, so you can finish the job quickly, effortlessly, & with less fatigue. CUT COMMAND CENTER™ helps you monitor runtime & blade life, activate turbo mode & lights, and adjust drive type & self-propelled speed at your fingertips. Achieve an extra boost of power with turbo mode. Best of all, it is part of the RYOBI 40V system where any 40V battery works with any 40V product. Backed by the 5-year manufacturer’s tool warranty and 3-year manufacturer’s battery warranty.
Cub Cadet ULTIMA Z3 50S
Step up to the advanced Ultima Series™, the Cub Cadet® Ultima Series Z3 50S 50-in. 23 HP* Zero-Turn Lawn Mower with AeroForce™ Fabricated Deck and Synchro-Steer™ Technology is engineered for precision, control, and stability on challenging terrain. Don’t back down from hills and slopes up to 20-degrees**. Synchro-Steer™ technology offers 4-wheel control and provides stability for straight-line mowing on hillsides. Experience uncompromised performance and durable strength, designed to help you mow efficiently and maintain control. Experience the ultimate in control even when facing slopes and hills up to 20-degrees with Cub Cadet® steering wheel zero-turns equipped with patented Synchro-Steer™ technology.
The Ultimate Mowing Experience from Cub Cadet® is powered by a reliable Kawasaki® Engine. A 23 HP* Kawasaki® twin-cylinder OHV engine delivers high-performance to tackle your yard.
A 11-gauge steel welded, heavy-duty fabricated AeroForce™ Max deck with side, top and leading-edge reinforcements equips you with the right amount of strength for consistent cut quality.
Weed Beater ULTRA | Concentrate
KILLS OVER 200 BROADLEAF WEEDS - In one easy step, spray controls lawns from growing dandelion, clover, ground ivy, bedstraw, aster, gumweed, nettle, oxalis, ragweed, chickweed, and many more.
FOR USE ON GRASS - Designed to kill a variety of weeds, not lawn grasses. When used as directed it kills broadleaf weeds in lawns, roots and all.
QUICK RESULTS - Injury to weeds can be noticed within hours of the application and plant death can occur within 7-14 days.
WON'T WASH AWAY - Weed Beater Ultra is rainproof within hours. For best results, spray with enough time for it to completely dry before it rains. Will not wash off after it has dried.
EASY SPRAY APPLICATION - Product instantly mixes with water and should be applied with a backpack, compression, or knapsack sprayer. Carefully read and use according to label directions.
Big League Lawns Checkmate Lawn Striping Kit
Big League Lawns© manufactures striping rollers that connect to virtually every mower and size. As the operator mows the turf, the CheckMate™ striping roller gently folds the grass in the direction of cut. The resulting patterns are created by sunlight reflecting from the grass. Grass that is bent away from you reflects light which appears much lighter in color. Grass that is bent towards you appears a much deeper green due to shadows being cast under the bent tips of grass. When mowed and rolled in opposing directions, vibrant patterns are created, rivaling major league ballparks throughout America.
Garden Weasel Edger
PERFECT SCULPTED EDGES: Create that attractive, professional-looking landscaped border with precise clean lines. This functional tool delivers perfect edges for garden beds, patios, trenches, sidewalks, driveways, and more.
EASY TO USE: Our hand edger lawn tool is simple and efficient. No bending or lifting is involved, reducing overall stress on the body. Place the edger on your marked line, push down on the comfort footplate, and pull back on the handle for leverage.
LANDSCAPING VERSATILITY: Ideal for separating flowers, shrubs, and groundcover areas, redefining edges, and containing mulch around trees and hedges. The half-moon edger lawn tool keeps debris out of flower beds, keeping them neat and clean.
DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: Fabricated from sturdy carbon steel, this convenient bed edger tool is rust and water-resistant. It has a non-slip rubber grip handle, comes fully assembled, weighs less than 4 pounds, and is 38" tall.
Garden Weasel Cultivator
THE ORIGINAL GARDEN WEASEL: Easily breaks apart soil while simultaneously cleaning itself with every turn of its 3 interchangeable rotary blade wheels. Aerate, weed, and till for a healthy garden.
EASY TO USE: Place the tiller in the soil and move it in a back-and-forth motion. The hand cultivator combines the functions of a hoe and spade without bending or stooping, resulting in less strain on your body, more efficiency, and faster results.
SIMPLE AND VERSATILE: Ideal for handling large plots of land and prepping for re-seeding. The small garden tiller has 3 interchangeable rotary blade wheels that are easily removed to provide unlimited cultivating and weed removal options.
DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: Our convenient hand tillers and cultivators are rust and water-resistant and are made from sturdy carbon steel. It has a rubber grip handle and a hanger and comes fully assembled, weighs less than 3 pounds, and is 54 ½" long.
MySoil Starter Pack
The MySoil Starter Pack comes with one MySoil soil test kit and a stainless steel MySoil soil probe. All Products are 100% USA made Soil Test Kits Grow The Healthiest Yard & Garden! MySoil Soil Test Kit is the most Accurate and Easy-To-Use professional soil test kit available and is designed for the DIY community
Organic and Synthetic fertilizer recommendations tailored to your soil
Report provides 13 plant available nutrient levels including Nitrogen and pH (Nitrogen (N) (Nitrate & Ammonium), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Sodium (Na))
Perfect for all growing scenarios (Lawn & Turf, Gardening, Compost, Trees, Vines Ornamental Landscape & Soil-Less Media). Promotes sustainable practices
Each kit provides everything required for use *including prepaid return postage & dedicated customer support.
Soil Probe Specially designed for the DIY community with ease of use and size, the MySoil probe guides a consistent depth and soil proportion for each soil core. This ensures the user has the best quality soil sample possible. The probe is 100% made in the USA from Stainless Steel for a lifetime of use. Dimensions are 8" Tall by 1/2"diameter core.
Simple Lawn Solutions Lawn Energizer 6-0-0 (1 Gallon)
Energize and enhance the lawn's optimum color! Lawn Energizer is a high-quality liquid iron fertilizer intensified with Iron and Nitrogen. This enhanced iron and nitrogen fertilizer is specifically designed to energize your turf and soil to their optimum nutrient levels for maximum vigor, growth, and color. Lawn Energizer micronutrient fertilizer provides essential macro and micronutrients needed to darken the green of your lawn. Who Should Use This Product? Lawn Energizer 6-0-0 fertilizer is best to be used... If you want to darken the green of your lawn
If you are trying to boost vertical and lateral growth
If your soil is deficient in Nitrogen or Iron
Blue Resilience Tall Fescue & Kentucky Bluegrass Mixture
BLUE RESILIENCE™ from Twin City Seed is a powerful blend of top-performing tall fescues from the Resilience™ II Blend, combined with Blue Gem Kentucky bluegrass, known for its dark color, fine texture, and exceptional winter hardiness. This premium mix delivers the drought tolerance, self-repairing growth, and traffic resistance of turf-type tall fescues, plus the cold endurance and visual appeal of Kentucky bluegrass. It’s engineered for fast establishment, quick recovery, and a lush, carpet-like look year-round. Key Features:
- Elite tall fescue + Kentucky bluegrass combo for resilience and beauty - Rhizomatous tall fescues for lateral spread and self-repair - Blue Gem bluegrass improves winter survival and color retention - Superior drought & traffic tolerance for active family lawns - Thrives in full sun to moderate shade across diverse soil types - Perfect for high-use areas like neighborhood play zones, dog yards, and front lawns Whether you’re maintaining a pristine landscape or managing heavy foot traffic from kids and pets, Blue Resilience™ offers a durable, low-maintenance lawn solution that looks as good as it performs.
OBSIDIAN Perennial Ryegrass Blend
OBSIDIAN Perennial Ryegrass Blend features two elite cultivars of perennial ryegrass, both of which show off their dark side, including the darkest green variety on the market – ‘Fireball’. This blend exhibits rapid establishment, germinating in as little as 5 days, strong wear tolerance and creates a dark green, uniform lawn.
Tuff Turf Lawn Seed Mixture
TUFF TURF Lawn Seed Mixture® is a combination of improved turf-type tall fescues with perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. This mixture has excellent drought tolerance, wear tolerance, and will perform nicely in a variety of soil conditions. Tuff Turf Seed Mixture® will adapt to full sun to reasonably heavy shade conditions. It is best used where budgets dictate that input levels are low and in fact low levels of input are preferred. This mixture is proudly approved by the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance.