It depends on the soil and type of tree you are fertilizing. Yes you most definitely want to water the soil first, however, adding the fertilizer once watered shouldn't technically cause you to overwater your tree.
I would revaluate the type of soil you are using if you are concerned. I think we all fertilize once a week or every other week and I haven't had issues with overwatering. Also, depending on your location, you may want to cut back on fertilizing this late in the year.