Thanks for the replies everyone! The trunk seems stable and the new growth at the top looks okay, there's just swarms of spider mites crowding around there everyday it seems, even after I sprayed them off the previous day. Any particular reason why that happens? And should I prune the dead branches/leaves off at this point?
a long term goal might be to attract beneficial insects like ladybird beetles, lacewings, etc...
marigolds and other flowers can do that.
http://www.dianeseeds.com/flowers/beneficial-insects.htmli always much wide around my papaya
(compost on bottom, mulch on top)
they can send out roots for 20ft
keeping soil moisture constant and full of microbes is key.
i feed them with fish emulsion. it keeps the soil healthy.
i would prune anything you are sure is dead or wont come back.
they re-grow leaves pretty readily.
i had one freeze to the ground, and in spring it started producing leaves at 2 inches
(it was a 6ft plant)