Mature Larch beyond help??

[D.e.hill]

Hi, new here so thanks in advance for any help. 
 

My neighbours had a tree surgeon over today to look at some unrelated stuff in their garden, but he happened to notice our European Larch tree and comment that it should have far more growth by this time of the year and that it was probably beyond help. 
 

I don’t know the surgeon, and I’m getting this second hand so I’m hopeful someone here might be able to advise?

 

Pictures attached. The tree is the most redeeming feature of the house so I hope it’s not dying! It is normally bushier in the summer. 

 

Anything I can do? All help gratefully received. 

[Dan Maynard]

I think it's possible the remaining one would survive, the only disadvantage I can think is that the dead trunk would probably originally feed the roots on that side, so the root plate is compromised. If it's dying from something fungal though then most likely it's already spread throughout.

 

Thing is, cutting one stem down won't cost all that much less than cutting two, so if you go down that route you effectively pay twice should the second stem need coming down. If you wait a bit then the final decision is really final.

 

Like Mick says though, it's probably toast. I'm just working on the basis that you really don't want to cut it down or you'd have done that already , so give it every chance possible.