It is usually better to set plants an inch higher than ground level, than it is an inch lower. Once the plant is in place, but before putting all the soil in, fill the hole with water, and allow it to drain away. Next replace soil, working it down with your hands as you fill the hole. Leave a saucer-like ring of soil around the plant so that water will run in toward the plant. Water in well and mulch a couple of inches deep.
Most new plantings die, or suffer because of lack of water.
Just sprinkling with a hose once in awhile will not do it. Soak the soil completely at least once a week in the beginning. After a few months the interval between waterings can be longer, but the amount of water used should still be enough to saturate the soil in the root zone. The lists of plants on the following pages certainly do not include all of the plants that can be grown in the beach area. Properties directly facing the ocean or bay are of course limited to what can be used, since the plants are facing the salt water.