Soil activated granules are designed to bypass the plant and contact the soil surface. This is especially beneficial for nutrients, pre-emergent herbicides, and sub-surface insecticides. Granules that offer "dispersibility" when contacted with water offer many advantages over other granules in this category. Granules such as DGLite disperse when contacted with water (see how this works) which limits the potential of "pick-up" from non-targeted species like birds, as well as increased efficacy with the increased particles released after dispersal.

Foliar granules are designed to "perch" on the plant surface and are typically lightweight and small particle. The purpose of these granules is to deliver a chemical to the plant through its leaf tissue. These granules are beginning to close the efficacy gap between liquids and granules but require a great deal of sophistication to enable the desired chemistry to leave the granule and enter the leaf tissue.

Combinations - many of the above delivery mechanisms can be combined to target multiple targets. Examples are: Weed and Feeds in which the weed control perches on the leaf surface and the nutrients fall to the soil and Fertilizer/Bait combinations which allow a user to fertilize and apply insect bait in one application.

Baits are designed to attract a pest such as Fire Ant or Mole Cricket, which offer many advantages to the other granules. Since the targeted pest is attracted to this granule much less is required to destroy the pest. Baits can be spot applied or broadcast applied.