How much does it cost to deal with half the tree is dead and the other half looks fine?

You are generally buying an assessment first, then either a crown cleaning priced as ordinary pruning or a full removal — so expect the quote to come in two parts, and be wary of anyone who skips straight to the second. The expensive mistake specific to this symptom is letting a storm-chaser top off the dead half: it leaves stubs that decay into the trunk, does nothing about the underlying cause, and grows weakly attached regrowth you will pay to remove again in five years. UNVERIFIED: local pricing figures.