Plant common manzanita seedlings 6 to 15 feet apart in open areas, 8 to 10 feet away from one-story buildings' sides, and 6 to 8 feet away from their corners. Place them where they won't have to contend with other plants for space. By placing them in an open area, you may also avoid the fungi that thrive in the stagnant air and attack their leaves.

A common manzanita seedling should be planted in a hole that is twice as wide and not quite as deep as the root ball. Use a pick or shovel to roughen the bottom and edges of the hole so that root tips can more easily pierce the local soil. Make sure there are no curling roots as you slide the root ball into the hole. Make sure the dirt is firm and free of air pockets by pressing down with your heel or the back of your shovel. The root ball's top should be 1/2 to 1 inch above the surface of the earth. Remove the stake if it was included with the seedling. Give the tree plenty of water, and keep doing so for a month. heavy downpour Fungal illnesses can be brought on by splattering mud on the leaves of the lowest branches. Put a coarse mulch of bark or chipped wood at the base of newly planted seedlings to prevent that.

Prune the tops of common manzanita branches in late winter, before the new spring growth has started, to increase the density of the interior. To highlight the smooth, sculptural inner branches, cut older branches that are dropping bark and eliminate lower branches throughout the winter. Additionally, removing the lower branches will improve air flow. Before using your pruning tools, clean them by soaking them in a solution of one part rubbing alcohol and one part water for five minutes. Allow the pruners to dry naturally or cleanly rinse them.