Louie,
Sulfur (or cattle-bag mix) ought to be enough cheaper than the other stuff to at least be worth trying. It will be handy if it works..and if it doesn't, I'll try something else. I think it seems better to offend ticks/fleas than kill them so it's worth a shot.
That stuff is probably easier to find than nematodes.

GregF,
If I was truly hell-bent on raising a poisonously destructive ruckus and killing everything in sight, I wouldn't have started a thread asking other folks what they use. I'm working toward learning enough to make a sensible choice.
Chances are, Dept of Ag would be glad to suggest what I should do and how I should do it..and they'd most likely do that without offering a suggestion that fits within what I can afford and what I can physically do. I don't want to be Told what to do--I want to have enough information to Decide what to do.
I know you're trying to convince me not to run off halfcocked and that you think I should check with the Proper Authorities. If you're doing that out of concern/consideration, thank you.
I'm bright enough to realize that what I do to the ground affects the world. I live here. I am not planning to kill anything but the things that want to bite me.
I don't have any plans to put anything on the ground that will poison my pets or ground water.

I also don't have any plans to live in the middle of a tick festival.

Thanks everybody,
M