As I was cleaning out underneath flowers, lots of white fungus/mold was present as well as some hard mushroom like growth. My soil is primarily sand as I live in the coastal Carolina area. My concern is whether this will harm plants. Any help you can give would be appreciated.
More than likely, they are protecting your plants from other harmful things. The mycelium is breaking down matter that would, otherwise, absorb nutrients away from your plants. It is very healthy to see white mecelium on dead organic matter.
These articles will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/mulch/common-mulch-fungus.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/fungus-lichen/mycorrhizal-fungi-information.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/manures/fungus-growing-on-manure.htm
I just sent this question with a photo but did not finish your questionnaire. Can you match us?
I would not plant this now. It will not be able to establish while it is cold and will be killed by the winter weather. I would wait until it warms up in spring. Keep it in a cool place such as the garage till spring and water sparingly.
This article will help you to care for them: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/azalea/azaleas-noteworthy-shrubs-for-any-garden.htm
If it was a gift azalea (from a florist) meant for indoor growing it can't be planted outside. But you can grow those indoors.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/azalea/growing-azalea-houseplants.htm
this azalea is out with the crocus. very beautiful deep pink. it was planted 49 years ago from our former home...just a foot tall then. it now has many inch thick canes and very crowded at base. is not blooming as much as before. should i cut down by 1/3 or thin out crowded heavy canes at the base? or both?
I would say that a bit of both will be necessary. In order to prevent shocking the plant, you should do no more than 1/3 of this pruning at a time. This means taking parts of the plant, slowly, over time.
This may take a couple of years, if the shrub is excessively large, since you will only want to prune during the proper times. You will want to catch them right after flowering, so that you don't destroy next year's flower buds.
Here is an article that will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/azalea/pruning-azaleas.htm
My plants are 20 years old and not knowing much about plants and in the beginning they bloomed every year. However, not knowing anything about plants(especially these), I didn't do any kind of pruning. Now they have grown to over 10' high and last year they didn't produce any flowers and it looks like they won't this year either. Is there anything I can do about this or is it too late in their life? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Do I prune at all? Do I prune just below where it flowered or further down twig?
Generally, you will just prune below the dead flower clusters. They are tolerant of less than perfect pruning, though.
This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/azalea/pruning-azaleas.htm
We just planted two azalea bushes in our front flower garden and we planted them in peat moss with azalea food. They have been in the ground for about a week and the leaves look really really green and healthy but the flowers are browning and dying. What are we doing wrong?
I imagine it is the stress from planting. But here is information on diseases, so you can keep an eye on it.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/azalea/common-azalea-problems.htm
A present bought for us as an indoor houseplant, we ask if it can be moved outdoors when it has stopped flowering.
Not usually. Florist azaleas are only hardy to zones 10 and above and are not the hardy, outdoor azaleas. If your gift came in a foil wrapper from a grocery store or florist it is probably an indoor azalea. If there is a tag on it that says it is perennial or hardy you can plant it outdoors.
Yours is gorgeous by the way.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/azalea/growing-azalea-houseplants.htm