Ok so it is the first winter outside for my Chinese Elm, which i have since previous summer. I put it outside for the first time during spring, and it had been doing well.

Now the coldest temperature we got here so far was about -12 celcius (but its usually around -4 during night). Though i put my trees in containers filled with bark just in case. Also just before winter there was a warm period and my chinese elm put out few new shoots;/. I didnt water the elm much during the winter, mayby twice, last time about 2-3 weeks ago, and i noticed that the water was barely draining into the soil, it took a long time to drain. But when i check the soil always seem to be kinda wet.

The new shoots all shriveled up, i guess thats becouse they couldnt live through so cold temperatrures, but also the old big leaves started to get brown, and some few fell of so far(just couple). Not sure why this is happening? I attached few pictures of the leaves, i hope someone have some idea what mayby happening? (not enough water?/ too cold?/ too wet?)

Or might it be the so calles winter burn?

-4C is not cold. Lack of water could be a possibility, It can happen that new growths will die back, so I would not be worried. Do not let it get very dry. If it seems wet, then push a chopstick through the soil in several places to aid drainage then as soon as the weather improves I would repot.

The coldest it gets here is -1 so i dont need extra protection so sorie cant help

So it's already 18th of april and i still dont see any buds on my elm (see pictures). I recently scratched the bark a little and it's still green under the bark. Should i leave it be? or is it dying? Is it possible that it will still bud later? Mayby i should plant it in the ground to try to save it ? Thanks for help

How long since daytime temps got to the 10 degrees C where you are?

It will take a few weeks to start growing. But if all trees are already in full leaf, something might be amiss. Do not toss it though. Trees can in some years be iffy, taking months to leaf out. I collected a large elm last year march. It grow 2 leaves per branch and just sat there, looking empty. Now all branches are covered with opening buds.

It's been about 2 weeks of nice sunny weather even up to 22 celcius. My larches buds are already extending nicely. I am a little afraid becouse it was this elms first winter outside, and the leaves didnt gradually turn yellow and drop, they didnt drop at all at first and only after some time in winter they started to turn brown and drop off.

Don't worry too much yet. Give it a week or two. If you look at the branches, do you see a shine to the buds?

I dont see any shine to the buds ;/ they are very small and dark brown, they look dead and dry tbh ;/ You can see it a little on these pictures below

Patience and hope..