OTAs in Texas, Nevada, California, and New Jersey can make as much as $60,000+ per year. The lowest salaries are in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, and South Dakota, where most OTAs make under $40,000 per year. These figures are averages, however, and your salary can also depend on other factors such as where you work and who you work for.
Hold it there for 60 seconds and take a reading. pH is usually measured on a scale of 1-14, though the tester may not include this entire range. 1  A pH of 7 indicates neutral soil. 2  A pH above 7 indicates alkaline soil.  A pH below 7 indicates acidic soil.
Collect samples of soil from the different gardens to be tested but do not mix them. A pH test needs to be done for each garden. Insert the trowel vertically into the garden to a depth of 6 to 8 inches down to get a sample of soil.