The carrier may be fertilizer, clay, lime, vermiculite, or ground corn cobs. The performance of granulated herbicides, compared to that of sprayable formulations, varies with the herbicide. Granular forms generally require more rainfall for activation than do sprayable formulations. For brush control in forests or permanent pastures, they also may be applied with spinner spreaders mounted on helicopters or aircraft.
Pellets gradually break down from rainfall and leach into the soil for root uptake.