The method improves plant growth in a localized area (18) by aerating the soil with compressed air from below, and/or by irradiating the plants with reflected sunlight. The soil aeration unit (10) has a network (37,38) of tubes (30) below the roots of the plants (16), connected to pumps or compressors. The irradiating unit employs reflectors which cast incident sunlight onto an area of ground. USE/ADVANTAGE - Local improvement of plant growth, esp. in places with unfavourable growth conditions, so that a more uniform overall growth is obtained.