Granular fertilizer is different from liquid fertilizer. This is a mixer of the solid components with nutrients mixed. You have to first spread the fertilizer well before watering otherwise it gets washed out from the surface of the soil. Granular fertilizer act slowly. First, its components break down then its added nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus can be absorbed by the plant. Watering helps to trigger the granular fertilizer to break down and it helps to dissolve it into the soil.