Planting vegetation is an effective way to increase dune stability. The root networks of plants hold sand in place to reduce erosion. The stems, leaves and blades of grass slow down wind near the ground to reduce erosion and trap wind-blown sand.

Planting native species is advantageous because the species are well-adapted to dune conditions and produce a naturally-functioning system. For example, Ammophila breviligulata (commonly known as American beach grass or marram grass) is a pioneering dune plant that thrives in areas of active sand movement and deposition. The beach grass is a natural dune builder because it tolerates hot, dry sand conditions, it traps moving sand, it sends shoots up through growing sand deposits, and it spreads horizontally by rhizomes.

Planting non-native species occurs where speed of stabilization (rather than restoration or conservation) is the motivating factor. Some coastal homeowners plant exotic species because they see dunes on their property as an extension of their landscaping. Sometimes coastal managers introduce species that have been successful in stabilizing dunes elsewhere in the world. Ammophila arenaria (European beach grass) was introduced to the United States west coast where it has both outcompeted the native Ammophila breviligulata and changed the shape of coastal foredunes.

Afforestation, or foresting dune areas, has a long history of use as a method of stabilizing dunes. In Europe and North America, most plantings occurred between 1920 and 1960. Pplantations of conifers (mostly pine and spruce) remain on many coastal dunes. The conifers almost completely destroy native vegetation within a couple of years because of progressive shading and deposits of relatively inert needles on the forest floor.