Do Mulch And Stones Need To Be Moved From Around Flowers Before Using Granular Fertilizer

Question From: Charter Township of Clinton, Michigan, United States
Q: I had River stone put in my flower beds this year. Do I have to push the stones away from the plants when I fertilize or can I just put the granulated fertilizer on top of the stones around the plants? Will the fertilizer work? I had mulch before & brushed the mulch away from plants. Totally new to me. Thanks, Bridget

A: You can scatter the fertilizer over the stones and water it in. Where things get dicey is when the leaves fall. You will need to blow them off the stones. If organic material builds up between the stones, weeds will sprout. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy