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Planting seedlings requires a little more care since there is greater risk of transplant shock and root injury. Seedlings should be planted when the soil is wet but not frozen.  So your plan in the Fall would be favorable.  When planting potted seedlings, try to keep the soil from falling off the roots when the seedling is removed from the container. Place the seedlings in the ground such that the top of the soil from the container is even with the ground line. It is especially important not to plant the seedlings so shallow that the potting mix sticks up in the air, since this can cause moisture to “wick-out” and the seedlings to dry up. Also, tamp the soil down in the planting hole so that air pockets are removed. If possible, water the transplants when they are planted. This settles the soil, ensures there is adequate moisture, and helps eliminate air pockets. Bear in mind that root systems vary by depth and spread based on tree species, age, soil type, etc. The root systems of some oaks, for example, can extend well beyond the canopy dripline. This full root zone may extend 2 to 3 times beyond the Critical Root Zone.

Recent studies have indicated that augering holes 1-2 feet below planting spots and backfilling with the broken-up soil can promote deep root development and stimulate vigorous growth. This is especially beneficial if you are planting in hard, compacted ground. Deep root development provides seedlings with greater access to moisture, thus reducing the ill effects of summer drought. Placing a fertilizer tablet a few inches below and to the side of the bottom of the root can also help ensure that the developing seedling will have plenty of nutrients for its initial growth.

The site where you choose to plant the seedlings may also be critical for their success. Choose a sunny spot that has loose, well-drained soil and is fairly free of weeds, as weeds and grasses compete for moisture.   It is therefore recommended that a 2-3 foot radius circle around the planting spots be cleared of other vegetation. This can be done by hand weeding, hoeing, scalping, or by spraying a contact herbicide. However, with any of these methods, be sure to check back in the spring and early summer to remove any additional weeds that may have come up. It is generally best to keep the weeds away for at least 2 years after planting.

Another way of reducing weeds near seedlings is to place some type of mulch around the planting spots. Bark chips, straw, compost, mulching paper, or even black plastic can be used. Mulches have an added benefit in that they also help conserve moisture by reducing evaporation from the soil surface. In areas where water is accessible, several deep irrigations (2/3 gallons per seedling) during the late spring and early and late summer can also help ensure that the seedlings are not damaged by drought.

As the seedlings start to grow in the spring, there is a also a chance that their tender young shoots will be eaten by livestock, rabbits, grasshoppers, or other animals. The risk of such injury to seedlings can be reduced by placing protective cages around the planting spots. One type of cage that has worked well in research plots consists of an 18×18-inch aluminum screen that is formed into a 5-inch diameter cylinder and stapled to a 1x2x24-inch wooden stake. The cylinder is folded closed at the top. The stake is driven into the ground so that the screen cage covers the spot where the acorn or seedling is planted. This cage will keep out rodents, insects, and browsing animals. You’re now well on your way to establishing an oak tree!