Yesterday I bought little 4" pots of basil to put in my container garden. When I pulled them out of their pots, they were so potbound that the roots had wound and rewound themselves in the pot. Good roots but thickly potbound and hardened into a ball the shape of the pot.

Do I tease them apart, or leave them. If I leave them, will they grow outwards in the container mix. Other than that they are healthy looking.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.