The question of how to safely prevent and approach the onset of ice on the lawn is one that has been asked numerous times in the past. De-icing works on surfaces like concrete, which aren’t so easily damage, but it can do a number on organic elements such as those present in your lawn.
Because of its composition and physical properties, salt is not suitable to keep ice off of your lawn. While it does perform that job quite well, it can also weaken your lawn by seeping away moisture from the ground and by being quite abrasive, so that it may severely damage the grass blades. Small amounts of salt can be used when temperatures are not so low, as salt is most effective at temperature levels just below freezing. However, for lower temperatures, you have to use an alternative compound that will not create such damage and will still perform well to keep ice at bay.
Alternative organic lawn care products should be generally used to prevent damage to your lawn due to rock salt as well as other types of salt. It’s better to de-ice using products like calcium-chloride or magnesium acetate, since these compounds are salt-free, and are also quite effective when the ice is starting to get extremely cold.