I'm getting owned by boss trees and I might be a masochist. No, I don't need another Miner Buddy. I have 2 already.

[RavenousRaven]

And I'm have a blast with the game.

[titanopteryx]

There are options. Getting a better ax would definitely help. Better if you get a better ax on each of your lumberjack buddies too. Additionally, go on a tree chopping spree to level up yourself and your lumberjack buddies. There's further options later in the game. When you unlock the arena, the prize for one of its tiers is a set of armor that boosts gathering skills. Enemies with crowns over their heads drop chests which might contain axes, with better axes dropping the higher the level the boss is. The boss at the end of the Cave of Trials might drop a good ax.

[Vaelr]

on top of what was mentioned, if you havent unlocked the both charged attacks, id work towards that. it makes the boss trees way easier, as it seems they move their weak spot based on being hit a number of times, so you can mow them down without having to find the new weak point